Dhaka: India has stepped up its diplomatic outreach in Bangladesh as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Bangladesh Jamaat e Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman on the sidelines of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s swearing in ceremony. The meeting took place as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and the Foreign Secretary represented Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the event.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka said the Foreign Secretary conveyed greetings to Dr Rahman on his new role and reaffirmed India’s enduring support to Bangladesh. He underlined the people centric nature of bilateral ties. Dr Shafiqur Rahman spoke about the deep civilisational bonds between the two countries and expressed hope for stronger relations.
Bangladesh Jamaat e Islami (BJI) has emerged as the largest opposition party and secured strong support in areas along the India border. In earlier years, political voices in Bangladesh had raised concerns that India engaged mainly with the Awami League government and avoided outreach to other parties. The recent meeting signals a broader engagement strategy.
Om Birla also handed over a letter from Prime Minister Modi inviting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, his wife Dr Zubaida, and his daughter Zaima to visit India. India seeks to improve ties after a period of strain under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. With a new elected government in place, both sides appear ready to strengthen cooperation based on mutual respect and shared interests.
