Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday, as diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Dhaka remain under strain following a recent virtual media interaction by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Trivedi paid a courtesy call on Rahman at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Details of the discussions were not immediately disclosed.

The meeting comes at a sensitive time for India-Bangladesh relations, with Dhaka having raised strong objections to Hasina’s virtual press interaction held on August 5.

Hasina’s remarks trigger protest

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and work towards restoring democracy in the country. She also acknowledged that she could face imprisonment or even a death sentence upon her return.

The comments prompted a strong reaction from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dhaka accused Hasina of making statements that could affect public sentiment and complicate efforts to improve bilateral relations.

India has maintained that it had no involvement in the event and described the virtual media interaction as a private programme. New Delhi has also said it does not endorse statements made by Hasina about the current Bangladeshi administration.

Trivedi stresses dialogue

Against this backdrop, Trivedi adopted a conciliatory approach and stressed the importance of direct communication between the leadership of the two countries.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a Children’s Corner at the Indian Visa Application Centre in Dhaka, Trivedi expressed respect for Rahman and said dialogue between the two governments could help resolve outstanding issues.

He said that problems between countries could be addressed when their leaders communicate directly and expressed confidence that India and Bangladesh could find solutions through engagement.

Trivedi also praised the people-to-people relationship between the two countries, suggesting that despite recent disagreements, there remained scope for constructive engagement.

Courtesy call amid tensions

Trivedi’s meeting with Rahman was formally described as a courtesy call. He took charge as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh on June 12.

The timing of the meeting, however, has attracted attention because of the ongoing diplomatic exchanges surrounding Hasina and the broader state of bilateral relations.

New Delhi and Dhaka have faced several sensitive issues in recent months, with developments involving Hasina adding another layer of complexity to the relationship.

BRICS invitation adds significance

The meeting also comes after India invited Rahman to attend the upcoming BRICS Summit in September.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the invitation to Rahman, with Bangladesh’s position as the current chair of BIMSTEC cited as part of the broader diplomatic context.

Dhaka has not yet formally confirmed whether Rahman will attend the summit.

The invitation is significant as India continues to maintain engagement with Bangladesh despite the tensions surrounding Hasina and other bilateral issues.

India seeks diplomatic engagement

India has sought to distance itself from the political statements made by Hasina while continuing official-level engagement with Bangladesh’s current government.

New Delhi’s position has been that it remains committed to its relationship with Bangladesh and supports constructive dialogue between the two countries.

For Dhaka, however, Hasina’s presence in India remains a sensitive issue, particularly after her government was removed following the political unrest of 2024.

Hasina is also facing a death sentence imposed by a Bangladeshi special tribunal in November 2025 over her handling of the 2024 unrest.

The meeting between Trivedi and Rahman therefore comes at a crucial juncture. While it does not indicate that all differences between the two countries have been resolved, the diplomatic engagement suggests that both sides continue to keep channels of communication open.