FM leaves Dhaka today for Delhi

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman will hold key bilateral meetings in New Delhi during a stopover en route to Mauritius to attend the Indian Ocean Conference on 10-12 April, foreign ministry's spokesperson said today (7 April).

"During his [Khalilur's] transit in New Delhi, he is expected to hold courtesy meetings with India's external affairs minister, national security adviser and petroleum minister," said spokesperson SM Mahbubul Alam, who is also director general of Public Diplomacy Wing, at the foreign ministry this afternoon. 

He said, the foreign minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka today to participate in the conference, where regional cooperation and maritime issues are expected to be discussed.

Mahbubul said the meetings will focus on strengthening bilateral relations based on mutual respect, trust and shared interests, with emphasis on ensuring stability and continuity in cooperation.

The visit is also expected to help elevate Bangladesh-India cooperation to a more productive and sustainable level in the coming years, the spokesperson added. 

Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir will accompany the foreign minister during the India stopover and also join the Mauritius conference.

The trip will mark the first visit to Delhi by a Bangladeshi minister since the BNP government assumed office.

Yesterday, foreign ministry officials said the visit comes in a new political context, with Dhaka seeking to elevate previously strained ties with New Delhi to a mutually beneficial, win-win footing, guided by a "Bangladesh first" approach.

Bangladesh will reiterate its request for the extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other accused individuals, including Faisal Karim Masud, in connection with the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.

"It may take time but we want to see their return as soon as possible," a top official said, underscoring Dhaka's continued emphasis on legal cooperation.

Dhaka is also expected to urge India to adopt a more positive approach towards the full resumption of visa services for Bangladeshi nationals, noting the potential benefits of medical tourism.

Border management will feature prominently in the discussions, with Bangladesh stressing that it does not want to see any loss of life along the frontier and calling for enhanced coordination to maintain stability.

The two sides are also likely to discuss energy cooperation, including cross-border power trade and fuel supply, alongside broader efforts to strengthen connectivity and economic integration.

Water-sharing of common rivers, including the long-pending Teesta agreement, is expected to be raised as a key issue, while renewal of the Ganges Water Treaty, due to expire later this year, may also come up during the talks.

Trade facilitation measures, including easing non-tariff barriers and improving logistics connectivity, are also on the agenda as both countries seek to unlock greater economic potential.