Bangladesh highlights energy, water cooperation in India ties reset
Water sharing and climate resilience are also expected to play a central role in future engagement
Khalilur Rahman, Bangladesh's foreign minister, said the country is pursuing a "slowly but surely" approach to strengthening bilateral relations with India, emphasising patience and incremental confidence-building following the formation of a new government.
In an interview, Rahman described the future of ties through the prism of a "slowly but surely" concept, signalling a preference for gradual progress over rapid diplomatic breakthroughs. He characterised the current atmosphere in New Delhi as one of convergence, noting that both neighbours are "willing to engage, talk and take initiatives" after Tarique Rahman assumed office, says NDTV.
He said Dhaka's strategy centres on gradual normalisation rather than accelerating negotiations, stressing the importance of "patient confidence-building" to rebuild trust and sustain long-term cooperation.
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Energy cooperation has emerged as a key indicator of improving ties, Rahman said, pointing to India's support during global energy disruptions. "We have a pipeline and India is supplying diesel to Bangladesh," he said, referring to ongoing supplies during the Middle East crisis.
Water sharing and climate resilience are also expected to play a central role in future engagement. With the Ganga Water Treaty due for renegotiation later this year, Rahman described equitable water management as a "civilizational bond". "Water is finite. Ganga means life," he said, underscoring the importance of the river system.
He also highlighted shared environmental challenges, saying, "People are people. Whether it is in India or Bangladesh, we are facing exactly the same type of climate crisis," and called for a climate-resilient framework that could underpin bilateral relations for decades.
On broader strategic and economic relations, Rahman said Bangladesh's foreign policy is not a "zero-sum game". "Our relationship with other countries is not a problem," he said, referring to ties with partners such as China, which he said are driven by market forces rather than strategic alignment against India. He characterised India as a "structural presence" in Bangladesh's development, particularly in regional infrastructure and economic integration.
Rahman also highlighted the importance of people-to-people connections, citing shared cultural and geographic links, including borders and rivers. He said improving visa systems would be key to facilitating greater mobility and delivering tangible benefits for citizens in both countries.
