What India, B’desh Need to Focus Now

April 7, 2026

Ties between India and Bangladesh were fully reset following the elections in which the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) Tarique Rahman was elected as Prime Minister. The back channels had worked overtime to ensure this reset, and now, the visit by Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman to India will be watched with keen interest.

The visit is an important one and will further lay down the roadmap for ties between India and Bangladesh. The recent meeting between top security leaders is important as several critical issues will be discussed. Security cooperation is a key area that would be discussed at length, an official said. India and Bangladesh share a long border, and various issues, such as illegal immigration, would be discussed.

The two nations are already cooperating on this front, but the meeting would enhance this aspect even more. The visit also comes at a time when the West Asia conflict is causing disruptions in the global energy and supply chain. Another official said that this meeting is also important as it is aimed at enhancing regional stability. Topping the agenda would be counter-terrorism and border-related issues. India and Bangladesh have already agreed that the border should be a zone where no illegal activity takes place.

During the Doval-Rahman meeting, the discussions would be around enhancing border security and effective management. Dhaka’s access to the Indian market would be discussed during these meetings. Smoother transit of Indian goods through Bangladesh to the Northeast would also be on the discussion table. India and Bangladesh will also discuss ways of securing the Bay of Bengal as a crucial alternative for trade and energy transit.