Dhaka/New Delhi: Bangladesh on Wednesday sought to increase its fuel purchases from India, as Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman made the new government’s first ministerial visit to New Delhi, in another sign that tense relations between the two countries may be easing.
During his two-day visit, Rahman held talks with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, including energy cooperation.
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Rahman thanked India for the recent diesel shipments and requested larger quantities of fuel and fertilisers, and Puri indicated that the request would be considered “easily and positively.”
Bangladesh relies heavily on energy imports, which have been disrupted by the US-Israeli war against Iran.
The ministerial visit represents an early diplomatic initiative by the administration of Prime Minister Tariq Rahman, who took office in February after his landslide victory in the general elections.
The discussions also addressed easing travel restrictions and enhancing security cooperation. India said visa procedures for Bangladeshis – especially for medical and business purposes – will be relaxed in the coming weeks, according to the statement.
Despite deep cultural and economic ties and a 4,000-kilometre shared border, relations between the two neighbors deteriorated after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to New Delhi in 2024 following mass protests.
The statement added that Dhaka renewed its call for the extradition of Hasina, who was sentenced by the International Crimes Court in Bangladesh.
Rahman also met with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, where the talks touched on broader regional and international issues and the need to expand cross-sector cooperation.
While attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh have exacerbated tensions, both countries have suspended visa services and India has imposed port restrictions on some goods coming from Bangladesh. But there have already been recent signs of a thaw in the relationship.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Bangladesh in December to attend the funeral of Tariq Rahman’s mother and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first leaders to congratulate him when he won the election.
