Foreign minister Khalilur Rahman says Bangladesh will not strengthen relationship with one country at another’s expense
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman said Bangladesh and India have agreed to move forward with ties based on sovereign equality and mutual interests after a meeting with India’s new High Commissioner, Dinesh Trivedi. He said Dhaka will continue engaging with all partners and will not strengthen ties with one country at another’s expense.
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In a Nutshell:
- Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman met India’s new High Commissioner in Dhaka for the envoy’s first courtesy call.
- The foreign minister said existing “irritants” between Dhaka and Delhi need to be addressed in future discussions.
- Bangladesh is still reviewing India’s invitation for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The Minister said that he would inform the public after the decision is finalised.
Why it Matters
Khalilur’s comments come at a time when Bangladesh is trying to reset ties with India while expanding engagement with China and the US. Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to the BRICS Summit in New Delhi is still under review, but questions remain over whether unresolved issues linked to Sheikh Hasina’s exile could affect relationship with India. At the same time, At the same time, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy and US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gore, is set to visit Dhaka to assess Bangladesh’s priorities, including its growing engagement with China and trade ties with countries like Turkey. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman rejected the idea that stronger ties with China would create problems with Washington, saying Bangladesh’s foreign policy is “not a zero sum game".
What We Think
Bangladesh’s challenge is not choosing between India, China or the US, but keeping room to work with all three as their interests overlap. Khalilur Rahman’s remarks come as Dhaka balances closer engagement with China after Tarique Rahman’s Beijing visit, a possible BRICS invitation from India, and deeper talks with Washington through Sergio Gore’s visit. At the same time, questions around Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India remain a sensitive issue in Bangladesh-India ties. The government’s approach will be judged by whether it can turn this balancing act into practical gains while keeping one relationship from becoming a problem in another.