Uncertainty continues over Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman's visit to India

New Delhi: India and Bangladesh are continuing to hold back-channel talks to firm up a much-anticipated visit to New Delhi by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman after plans for his two-day visit this month fell through due to certain contentious issues, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) publicly announced earlier this month that India invited Rahman for a bilateral visit as well as to attend the outreach session of the upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi.

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In the last few weeks, Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Dinesh Trivedi held a series of meetings with top political brass of Bangladesh including Rahman, underlining the need to create a conducive environment to further advance the bilateral ties.

"I have nothing to say on this matter. If I have any updates, I will share them with you," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday when asked about Rahman's visit to New Delhi.

Earlier in the day, the Rashtrapati Bhavan withdrew an official communication that mentioned cancellation of Saturday's Change of Guard ceremony to accommodate the full rehearsal of Rahman's ceremonial welcome.

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The people cited above said there was plan for Rahman to visit India on August 23 and 24 but it fell through in view of certain issues.

The back-channel talks between Dhaka and New Delhi are underway to finalise his trip, they added.

As uncertainty over the trip continued, Trivedi met Bangladesh Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and discussed bilateral development projects and issues of mutual interest.

Three days ago, India said it desires "positive and constructive" relations with Dhaka based on "mutuality of interests and reciprocity".

The relations between the two countries came under some fresh strain after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina held a virtual media interaction in New Delhi on August 5.

Following Hasina's press interaction, Dhaka reiterated its demand for her extradition and even sought to link it with Rahman's possible visit to India.

After the media event, India sought to distance itself from it saying New delhi neither played a role in it nor endorsed Hasina's comments.

The Bangladesh foreign ministry had reacted sharply to her remarks and said the country is "outraged" as the interaction was permitted to be held despite Dhaka conveying concerns to New Delhi over the likely ramifications of the event on the bilateral relations.

Hasina, 78, was ousted from power in August 2024 following violent student-led protests. She has been living in India since fleeing Dhaka on August 5 that year.

In his media briefing, Jaiswal also responded to a question on Ganga Water Treaty between India and Bangladesh.

"As you would be aware the Ganga Water Treaty was signed in 1996 for a period of 30 years. All river-related issues between India and Bangladesh are discussed under the Joint Rivers Commission," he said.

"Further, meetings of the Joint Committee under the Ganga Water Treaty continue to be held at the technical level," he added.