Shafiqur Rahman, ameer (president) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, in Dhaka on December 31, 2025. | Photo credit: Reuters
A fortnight after the leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami Islamist party in Bangladesh revealed that he had a “secret” meeting with an Indian diplomat, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday (Jan 16, 2026) said the interaction was part of routine talks conducted by Indian diplomats in Dhaka.
“We have close bilateral relations with Bangladesh, as you well know. Our High Commission officials regularly meet with several partners,” official spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in response to a question, adding that “our interaction” with Jamaat-e-Islami “should be seen in that context.”
In an interview with Reuters, Jamaat ameer (president) Shafiqur Rahman revealed in December 2025 that an Indian diplomat had met him. The Dhaka Tribune reported that a meeting between an Indian diplomat and Mr. Rahman took place earlier in 2025. In an interview, Mr. Rahman said that while his meetings with international representatives were generally open to the public, an Indian official asked him to keep the meeting “secret.” “We have to be open to all. There is no alternative to improving mutual relations,” Rahman said in the *Dhaka Tribune*.
Mr. Rahman met with officials from the United States, China and other countries ahead of Bangladesh’s February 12, 2025 elections. Diplomats are also meeting leaders of other political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Published – 16 Jan 2026 22:37 IST