Bangladesh and India will hold a Joint Working Group meeting on trade in New Delhi to rebuild institutional ties and normalize strained bilateral relations.
According to diplomatic sources cited by Indian newspaper Hindustan Times, the Bangladesh-India Joint Working Group on Trade will meet in New Delhi on October 8 and 9. A Bangladeshi delegation will travel to the Indian capital for the discussions, which were rescheduled by a day due to logistical issues.
Alongside trade negotiations, both nations are coordinating a Joint Working Group meeting on consular matters, planned to take place in Dhaka on an unconfirmed date. Consular discussions carry high priority amid ongoing visa complexities, focusing on easing visa processing and resolving consular hurdles for citizens of both countries.
Diplomatic observers noted that maintaining institutional communication through trade and consular dialogues is vital for bilateral relations while politically sensitive matters move slowly.
Ties between Dhaka and New Delhi deteriorated sharply following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024 amid a mass student-led uprising.
Tensions persisted under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus over political issues, border management, and Sheikh Hasina's stay in India.
Relations entered a new phase after the BNP won the national election in February 2026 and formed the government. New Delhi extended invitations to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for a bilateral visit to India and to attend the BRICS summit as BIMSTEC chair.
Although Bangladesh skipped the BRICS summit last month, dates for Tarique Rahman's official bilateral visit to India remain unconfirmed due to crowded diplomatic calendars in both capitals.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman both maintain busy international schedules through the final quarter of the year, making it challenging to align a mutually convenient time for a summit meeting.