News Analysis : New discomfort in Dhaka-Delhi relations, diplomatic dialogue suspended, differences growing over Hasina's extradition
Mir Afroz Zaman
The bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India have once again become clear. The postponement of the fifth consular dialogue between the two countries in Dhaka on November 17 and 18 has created new uncertainty over long-standing unresolved issues.
Border killings, alleged push-ins, visa complications, repatriation of detained citizens and fishermen, mutual legal cooperation and Sheikh Hasina's extradition have all put Dhaka-Delhi relations in a complex diplomatic situation. In particular, a new strain has arisen in the relations between the two countries over the virtual speech given in Delhi by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in a student-public uprising on August 5, 2024. Sheikh Hasina spoke to the media virtually from New Delhi on August 5. After that, Dhaka reiterated its demand for her extradition.
According to diplomatic sources, both countries had agreed to hold the dialogue in the third week of November. Although Bangladesh proposed a meeting in late October, India proposed mid-November due to Durga Puja. Accordingly, the date was fixed for November 17-18. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry also held an inter-ministerial preparatory meeting on November 3 in view of this meeting. But in the end, the dialogue did not take place.
After the issue of postponing the dialogue came to light, questions arose about Sheikh Hasina's passport and national identity card application. However, the Press Minister of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, Saidur Rahman, said that the decision to postpone the dialogue was taken at least four days before Sheikh Hasina submitted her passport and national identity card application. As a result, Bangladesh has clarified that there is no opportunity to directly link the two incidents.
The most visible reason for the current tension in Bangladesh-India relations is the presence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India and Dhaka's demand for her return. She has been staying in India since she was ousted. Bangladesh has taken diplomatic initiatives to seek her extradition. Even after the International Criminal Tribunal's verdict in November 2025, Dhaka has reiterated its demand for extradition.
On the other hand, India's position has not yet met Bangladesh's expectations on this issue. The issue of Sheikh Hasina's extradition therefore remains a major obstacle in the way of rebuilding political trust between the two countries. Her recent application for a passport and national identity card and her expressed desire to return to Bangladesh have made the situation more sensitive.
However, limiting the crisis in relations to the Sheikh Hasina issue alone will not give the full picture of reality. There are also differences between the two countries on these issues: loss of life at the border, alleged push-ins, trade restrictions, visa crisis, sharing of water from a common river, and regional security.
Bangladesh and India have more than 40 bilateral institutional structures, including water, trade, border management, security, communications, and consular cooperation. But according to the officials concerned, effective progress in several of these structures has stalled.
This situation is worrying. Because the relationship between the two countries does not depend only on communication between political leaderships. Long-term problems can be resolved through regular official-level meetings, joint working groups and institutional discussions. If these mechanisms become inactive, even small disputes can turn into major diplomatic crises.
However, it cannot be said that all communication is completely stopped. After a three-year hiatus, a meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade was held in October. Indian visa operations for Bangladeshis have also resumed from June 2026, although services are still limited. That is, communication and cooperation are ongoing in some areas despite political tensions.
One of the most important strategic issues for Bangladesh now is the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty. The 30-year agreement signed in 1996 is scheduled to expire on December 12.
Quick and effective discussions are needed on the renewal of the agreement, equitable water distribution and management of common rivers.
India has said that the two countries have a Joint River Commission to discuss the waters of the shared river. But for Bangladesh, the question is whether a new agreement or an acceptable agreement can be secured before the expiry of the term. In this case, a long break in diplomatic contacts can affect the country's water security and agricultural economy.
Bangladesh and India share 54 common rivers. Therefore, water sharing is not an isolated issue, it is directly related to food security, agriculture, environment, river management and the livelihood of people living along the border.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India is ready to discuss all bilateral issues with Bangladesh through the existing framework. India's public statement indicates that the door to talks is open.
But diplomatic statements and real progress are not the same thing. Bangladesh expects visible progress on important issues including an end to border killings, visa normalization, an end to push-ins, fairness in water sharing and extradition.
If the dialogue were held, practical issues such as visas for citizens of the two countries, detainees, repatriation of prisoners and legal cooperation could have been discussed. At the same time, a positive environment could have been created for high-level political communication.
The most important question now is when the meeting will be rescheduled and how sincere the two countries are to reach an agreement on the issues under discussion. So far, no information has been made public about any major diplomatic countermeasures from Bangladesh in protest against the suspension of the dialogue. Rather, the Bangladeshi representative has explained the duration of the suspension of the dialogue.
For Bangladesh, now, substantive, consistent and result-oriented diplomacy is more important than emotional reactions. Political analyst Rawan Jahan of Dhaka University believes that discussions should be taken forward within the international and bilateral legal framework on stopping border killings, renewing the Ganges Water Treaty, normalizing visas, removing trade barriers and extradition issues.
