Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma has held a courtesy meeting with BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.
The meeting took place at the BNP Chairman’s office in Gulshan around 5:10pm (January 10), said BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed and others were present. The party has not disclosed what was discussed in the meeting.
Bangladesh’s ties with India have been strained since a student-led mass uprising toppled the Awami League regime in August 2024. India subsequently restricted visas for Bangladeshis, hitting business reliant of Bangladeshi tourists. Dhaka recently suspended visa activities at three Indian missions over security concerns.
Deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, once considered New Delhi’s closest ally, was sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against. India’s refusal to hand her over has further strained ties.
Relations had shown signs of thaw when India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the funeral of Tarique’s mother, former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, last month. Tarique returned from self-imposed exile in the UK on December 25 and assumed the role of BNP chairman yesterday.
