Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pranay Verma. Photo credit: hcidhaka.gov.in
India looks forward to talks with the new government in Bangladesh, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma said on Sunday (22 Feb 2026), expressing New Delhi’s willingness to re-engage with Dhaka.
High Commissioner Verma was speaking to reporters after meeting Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, days after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was sworn in on February 17.
“In today’s meeting with the foreign minister, I reiterated our position that we look forward to dealing with the new government in Bangladesh,” Mr Verma told reporters after the meeting, which was also attended by Minister of State for External Affairs Shama Obaed.
The envoy said he “stated that we want to strengthen our people-oriented cooperation in all fields, to work together in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner, based on mutual interest and mutual benefit.” Mr. Verma described the meeting as more of a “courtesy” call and an “initial exchange of views” as it was his first meeting with the new foreign minister and foreign minister after the new government took over in Bangladesh.
After his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a two-thirds majority in a decisive February 12 election, 60-year-old Tarique Rahman was sworn in on February 17, ending the 18-month rule of Muhumad Yunus as relations with India went south, their lowest ebb since 1971.
The Indian envoy said, “You are aware of our recent high-level communication with Bangladesh” since the election, pointing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory message to Tarique Rahman on February 13 shortly after the BNP’s victory.
“Later that day they also spoke on the phone,” Mr Verma revealed on Sunday (February 22, 2026). He also recalled that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government representing India and also had a bilateral meeting with the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
“In all these communications, we expressed our desire to build on our historical ties with Bangladesh and strengthen our multifaceted bilateral relations. We also emphasized our commitment to support a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh,” Verma said.
Published – 22 Feb 2026 21:18 IST
