External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman in New Delhi on Wednesday, where the two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional and global developments, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir was also present during the meeting.
Jaishankar reiterated India’s desire to engage constructively with the new government in Dhaka and further deepen bilateral cooperation, according to an official statement.
According to the MEA, both sides agreed to explore proposals to strengthen the partnership through existing bilateral mechanisms, with follow-up official meetings expected to take place at an early date. They also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Rahman also met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri during the visit.
Meanwhile, India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, met Brigadier General (Retd) AKM Shamsul Islam, defence adviser to the Bangladesh Prime Minister, on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the two officials reviewed security and defence cooperation between India and Bangladesh, including bilateral consultation mechanisms, training exchanges, capacity-building initiatives and exchanges between defence institutes of the two countries, and discussed ways to further strengthen defence ties.
“High Commissioner Pranay Verma called on H.E. Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Dr A.K.M Shamsul Islam, Defence Adviser to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh on April 8, 2026. They underlined the importance of sustained development of India-Bangladesh ties and affirmed the unshakeable bond between the two countries rooted in their shared sacrifices during Bangladesh’s Liberation War of 1971,” the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh posted on X.
“They also reviewed their wide-ranging security and defence cooperation, including bilateral consultation mechanisms, training exchanges, capacity-building initiatives and exchanges between defence institutes,” it added.
On Monday, Verma also called on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, where both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral engagement and cooperation across key sectors.
During the meeting, Verma expressed India’s willingness to deepen ties through a “positive, constructive and forward-looking approach” based on shared interest and mutual benefit.
The trip assumes significance as it is the first visit to India by a Bangladeshi minister since the BNP-led government assumed office in February, indicating a shift in the recalibration of India and Bangladesh ties, which had strained during the 18-month tenure of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus amid escalating attacks on Hindu minorities and anti-India rhetoric.
(with agency input)
