A Call for Trade Restoration
Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India, M. Riaz Hamidullah, has made a direct appeal to New Delhi to first restore the flow of trade from Bangladesh, in an interview published by THE WEEK. The diplomat's remarks come at a time when bilateral ties are navigating one of their most delicate phases, with the extradition demand for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina casting a long shadow over the relationship.
Hamidullah emphasised that Bangladesh is seeking restoration of trade to 2024 levels, after India closed its market land border to certain Bangladeshi exports in May 2025, a move the High Commissioner said affected goods worth between $700 million and $900 million. He noted that Bangladesh did not impose reciprocal measures in response to the border closure, underlining Dhaka's preference for dialogue over retaliation.
The High Commissioner also pointed to what he described as restrictive treatment of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in India, saying they are clubbed with Pakistan in a restricted category for investment. He added that over the past 10-12 months, some Bangladeshi exports worth only a few million dollars have been subjected to countervailing duties and punitive measures by India.
The Context of Strained Relations
The interview was conducted against the backdrop of a recent meeting between Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and India's envoy to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, on August 10. According to THE WEEK, the meeting lasted close to an hour and discussed dominant issues, including sensitive ones. Hamidullah described the encounter as a possible opening to take the conversation beyond closed-door diplomacy.
Daily Excelsior's analysis frames the relationship as being tested by the fate of Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after a student-led uprising toppled her government in August 2024. Dhaka has formally requested her extradition, and India has acknowledged receiving the request, saying it is being examined by the competent authorities under Indian law. Hasina has indicated she intends to return to Bangladesh by December, despite being sentenced to death in absentia by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal. She denies the charges and has described the proceedings as politically motivated.
Daily Excelsior reports that human-rights organisations have questioned the fairness of the tribunal proceedings. The new Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, who took office in February 2026 after the BNP's electoral victory, is the son of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia, Hasina's main rival.
A History of Deep Ties
Daily Excelsior provides a historical perspective, noting that India and Bangladesh's relationship was forged in the blood and sacrifice of the 1971 Liberation War, when Bangladesh emerged from the violent dismemberment of Pakistan. The Indo-Pakistani War of December 1971 ended with the surrender of Pakistani forces in Dhaka.
The two countries share a common river, land border, linguistic traditions, and economic connections. During Sheikh Hasina's rule after 2009, relations expanded in security cooperation, connectivity, and access to Bangladeshi ports. The 2015 Land Boundary Agreement settled enclave and adverse possession issues along a frontier of more than 4,000 kilometres, and the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty was signed in 1996 for 30 years, expiring in 2026.
However, the Teesta water issue remains unresolved and is a persistent grievance for Dhaka. The Teesta basin constitutes nearly 14% of Bangladesh's cropping landmass, and 21 million people depend on its waters, as reported by THE WEEK.
The Teesta and China's Role
Hamidullah revealed that Bangladesh is pursuing a China-backed river restoration plan for the Teesta, driven by social-economic-ecological considerations. He noted that the past Sheikh Hasina government also engaged with China on Teesta water management. The High Commissioner said Bangladesh is open to discussing security concerns and sharing details on the Teesta restoration project with India.
Daily Excelsior adds that China has expanded its investment, infrastructure projects, and defence supplies in Bangladesh. Hamidullah acknowledged that Bangladesh imports from China include machinery and chemicals, which cannot originate from India at present, and that India has a geographical advantage for exports to Bangladesh with delivery times of 24-48 hours.
Addressing Security and Regional Cooperation
Hamidullah stated that Bangladesh has addressed India's security concerns in good measure over the preceding months. He also noted that Bangladesh-Pakistan trade is currently below $1 billion, reassuring that Dhaka's ties with Islamabad remain limited.
On regional cooperation, the High Commissioner highlighted the SAARC Agriculture Centre in Dhaka, which has delivered public good for almost four decades, and the SAARC Development Fund, which has more than half a billion dollars to disburse, largely on grant-finance basis. He also mentioned that the SAARC Regional Multimodal Transport Study was undertaken more than two decades ago.
Perspectives
Bangladesh's High Commissioner: M. Riaz Hamidullah urges India to restore trade flows and treat Bangladesh as a trusted partner, emphasising shared interests, mutuality, and interdependence. He calls for blending short-term gains with long-term interests for a peaceful, harmonious, and stable geography in eastern South Asia.
Daily Excelsior's Analysis: The relationship is at its most delicate moment in decades, tested by the extradition demand for Sheikh Hasina. The article highlights the deep historical ties but notes the current predicament, with China's role as a growing factor and the Hasina question as a central condition for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's potential visit to India.