Modi’s Dhaka trip is a diplomatic success. Now focus on unresolved issues. | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
July 23, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025
Modi’s Dhaka trip is a diplomatic success. Now focus on unresolved issues.

Panorama

Masum Billah
27 March, 2021, 12:10 pm
Last modified: 27 March, 2021, 12:24 pm

Related News

  • Trial of 6 corruption cases against Hasina, others over plot allocation moved to 2 separate courts
  • Modi expresses shock at loss of lives in air crash, offers support
  • Court orders transfer of cases against Hasina, family over Rajuk plot corruption
  • ICT orders completion of investigations against Anisul, Salman, Palak, 42 others within 3 months
  • Curfews, block raids, and internet blackouts: Hasina’s last ditch efforts to cling to power

Modi’s Dhaka trip is a diplomatic success. Now focus on unresolved issues.

This warming relation between the neighbouring countries necessarily shows the BJP Hindutva government’s desire not to lose India’s most trusted regional ally to the Chinese influence

Masum Billah
27 March, 2021, 12:10 pm
Last modified: 27 March, 2021, 12:24 pm
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received her Indian counterpart Narndra Modi at the airport on Friday (26 March). Photo: Modi's Twitter
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received her Indian counterpart Narndra Modi at the airport on Friday (26 March). Photo: Modi's Twitter

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Dhaka trip on the occasion of Bangladesh's golden jubilee celebration is a diplomatic success because it proves the integrity of the Bangladesh-India relationship, the goodwill between the governments, and the desire to take the relationship to the next stage. 

A day before the trip, Narendra Modi said this Dhaka trip marks his first-ever foreign trip since the coronavirus gripped the world. This remark says a lot about the BJP government's seriousness about the bilateral ties with India's most trusted neighbour in the region. 

Especially, following the months of speculation about Bangladesh's growing ties with China – India's regional competition – Narendra Modi's trip is significant in diplomatic perspectives. Bangladesh also needed an occasion to warm up its relations with its largest neighbour as it has many unresolved issues with India that Dhaka needs to resolve. 

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

However, Dhaka did not turn Narendra Modi's visit to celebrate Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth centennial into a bargaining chip for now. The foreign minister of Bangladesh already said that the Teesta River water sharing issue is not on the agenda.  

This has thus become a tour of exchanging good will. For example, Narendra Modi brought 1.2 million vaccine doses with him as a gift for Bangladesh. 

"My visit will not only be an occasion to convey appreciation for Bangladesh's remarkable economic and developmental strides under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visionary leadership, but also to commit India's abiding support for these achievements," said Mr Modi in his statement a day before his visit. 

India has also promised to donate around 150 ambulances on the occasion of the birth centennial of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. "This is a gift from our prime minister. He will make the formal announcement," said Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. 

This warming relation between the neighbouring countries necessarily shows the BJP Hindutva government's desire not to lose India's most trusted regional ally to the Chinese influence. 

But what does this goodwill from the BJP government mean for Bangladesh? 

To answer that, one of the few things to consider here is the undeniable power of the BJP in India. BJP is not only the ruling party of India; rather, it looks like the most formidable political force right now that disarrayed the opposition political establishment at a loss and continues to grow in popularity in almost every part of the country. 

So, whether the Bangladesh government likes the Hindutva politics of the BJP or not, the undeniable reality is to get along with them. Since Bangladesh does not have many options but to get along with India, whichever party rules the country in that light, Dhaka has to get along. 

With the basic question resolved, Dhaka must look forward to utilising the warming up relationship with the BJP government to solve the unresolved issues. This seems a befitting time because India's ruling regime looks like it has now a good sense of resolving issues with the neighbours. For example, it came to an understanding with Pakistan at Line of Control (LOC). 

So, utilising the governments' goodwill, Dhaka needs to gear up the Teesta water share issue immediately. Perhaps the BJP would like to wait for a move in Teesta issue until the election in West Bengal province is over. But Dhaka shouldn't be lazing up for Indian internal complications. No matter what the election results in West Bengal, Dhaka must hurry up in approaching the existential issue with India forcefully than ever before. 

If the Imran Khan-led Pakistan and BJP government can come to an understanding at LOC, why not Bangladesh solve the water sharing issues with India? 

Besides, the border killing that never stopped, or the reiterating BJP rhetoric of pushing back so-called illegal Bangladeshi migrants from India to Bangladesh that already has created an unpleasant case in Assam, the trade relations often regarded as imbalanced should also be a big part of the bilateral discussions over the next few months. 

Dhaka perhaps should also keep in mind that if BJP takes over West Bengal, a new wave of citizen registration may grip the province to corner Bangladesh into further uncertainty. So for diplomacy's sake, the faster Dhaka begins the tough talks, the better for the country. 

All the sweet talks and gift exchanges will mean nothing in the test of time if the longstanding issues are not resolved. 

Analysis / Top News

India-Bangladesh / India-Bangladesh Relations / Bangladesh-India / Bangladesh-India cooperation / Bangladesh-India friendship / Bangladesh-India Relations / Sheikh Hasina / Narendra Modi / Indian PM Narendra Modi / Bangladesh visit of Narendra Modi / Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • The meeting is being held at the chief adviser’s official residence Jamuna. Photo: CA Press Wing
    CA Yunus holding meeting with 13 political parties
  • NIBPS Director Dr Nasir Uddin speaks at a press briefing, 22 July, 2025. Photo: TBS
    Milestone tragedy: 8 out of 44 patients in critical condition at burn institute
  • Hasnat Abdullah. Photo: Collected
    Health adviser should resign, obvious example of CA’s nepotism: Hasnat

MOST VIEWED

  • Screengrab/Video collected from Facebook
    CCTV footage shows how Air Force jet nosedived after technical malfunction
  • Photo: Collected
    Bangladeshi man jailed for life in UK for murdering wife in front of their baby
  • Why Bangladesh's capital market is poised for a bull run
    Why Bangladesh's capital market is poised for a bull run
  • ISPR clarifies crashed plane was battle aircraft, not training jet
    ISPR clarifies crashed plane was battle aircraft, not training jet
  • Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS
    Secretariat protest: 75 injured in police-protester clash over edu adviser's resignation for delaying HSC rescheduling
  • Exim Bank's former chairman Nazrul Islam Majumder being taken to court on 22 July 2025. Photo: Collected
    Will repay all money if granted bail, won’t run away, ex-Exim Bank chair Nazrul tells court

Related News

  • Trial of 6 corruption cases against Hasina, others over plot allocation moved to 2 separate courts
  • Modi expresses shock at loss of lives in air crash, offers support
  • Court orders transfer of cases against Hasina, family over Rajuk plot corruption
  • ICT orders completion of investigations against Anisul, Salman, Palak, 42 others within 3 months
  • Curfews, block raids, and internet blackouts: Hasina’s last ditch efforts to cling to power

Features

Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Aggrieved nation left with questions as citizens rally to help at burn institute

1d | Panorama
Photo: TBS

Mourning turns into outrage as Milestone students seek truth and justice

19h | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Uttara, Jatrabari, Savar and more: The killing fields that ran red with July martyrs’ blood

1d | Panorama
Despite all the adversities, girls from the hill districts are consistently pushing the boundaries to earn repute and make the nation proud. Photos: TBS

Ghagra: Where dreams rise from dust for Bangladesh women's football

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Elephant hits moving train

Elephant hits moving train

Now | TBS Stories
Postponed HSC exams to be held on same day: Education Adviser

Postponed HSC exams to be held on same day: Education Adviser

19m | TBS News Updates
80 Columbia University students punished for pro-Palestinian protest

80 Columbia University students punished for pro-Palestinian protest

1h | TBS World
Education Ministry dispute leads to delay in postponing exams

Education Ministry dispute leads to delay in postponing exams

3h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net