New Delhi: In a sign of warming relations, Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, met Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss strengthening defence cooperation.
The meeting marks a sharp turn in bilateral ties following the rise of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's government in Dhaka.
Hamidullah later posted on X: "Pleased to meet General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff (Indian Army), at South Block and reflected on Bangladesh-India ties, including defence collaboration."
The talks are significant because they signal a return to collaboration after a period of strain under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus's short-lived government, when Pakistan sought influence in Dhaka.
Rahman's "Bangladesh First" policy has reset the tone, distancing Dhaka from Islamabad and aligning more closely with New Delhi on shared security goals in the BBIN region and the Indian Ocean.
Bangladesh has already joined India's IOS SAGAR naval exercise, underscoring common maritime and energy security concerns. For India, the engagement fits neatly into its Neighbourhood First, SAGAR, and MAHASAGAR visions, strategies designed to tackle regional challenges, including disruptions from the West Asia conflict.
The meeting highlights a new chapter in India-Bangladesh defence ties, with both nations keen to build trust and stability in the region.