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“Friends can change, but neighbours cannot.” This simple observation captures one of the most important realities of Bangladesh-India relations.
Geography has permanently placed the two countries next to each other, while history, culture, language, trade, water resources, security and people-to-people ties have created a complex web of interdependence.
For Bangladesh and India, therefore, the question is not whether the two countries can avoid dealing with each other, but how they can build a stable, respectful and mutually beneficial relationship that can withstand political changes in either country.
The relationship has faced considerable strain since the fall of the Awami League government following the 2024 anti-discrimination student movement. Political differences, the presence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India, border killings, alleged push-ins, water-sharing disputes and security concerns have created mistrust between Dhaka and New Delhi.
Yet prolonged confrontation cannot serve the interests of either country. A sustainable relationship requires a new approach based on mutual respect, equality, transparency, accountability and the legitimate interests of both peoples.
A relationship shaped by geography and history
Bangladesh and India share a long land border and extensive historical, cultural and linguistic connections. Millions of people on both sides have family, economic and cultural links across the border.
The two countries also share rivers and ecosystems, while their economies are increasingly interconnected through trade, transport, energy and regional connectivity.These realities make Bangladesh-India relations fundamentally different from relations between distant countries.
India is Bangladesh’s largest immediate neighbour, while Bangladesh occupies an important geographical position for India’s northeastern region and wider connectivity with Southeast Asia.
Consequently, cooperation is not merely desirable—it is strategically necessary.
Bangladesh needs peaceful borders, reliable access to regional markets, energy security and water cooperation. India, meanwhile, has a strong interest in a stable, secure and economically prosperous Bangladesh.
The interests of both countries therefore converge in many areas.
What Islamic values say about relations with neighbours
From an Islamic perspective, good relations with neighbours carry special importance. Islam places great emphasis on justice, trust, peaceful coexistence, fulfilling agreements and avoiding unnecessary conflict.
The Quran commands believers to uphold justice and not allow hostility to lead them away from fairness. Islamic history also demonstrates that Muslims can maintain agreements and peaceful relations with people of different faiths and communities when such arrangements protect mutual rights and public welfare. This principle is relevant to modern statecraft as well.
Bangladesh, as a Muslim-majority country, can pursue a foreign policy that is firmly rooted in justice, national interest, peaceful coexistence and respect for sovereignty. At the same time, India, with its enormous diversity, has an equally important responsibility to ensure that its policies toward Bangladesh are based on equality and mutual respect rather than political preference for any particular party or individual.
The principle should be simple: neither friendship nor disagreement should come at the expense of justice. A reset should mean a new foundation—not another temporary arrangement. Since the political change in Bangladesh in August 2024, several attempts have been made to stabilise relations.
India initially welcomed the interim administration and repeatedly stressed that its relationship was with the people of Bangladesh rather than with any single political party. Diplomatic channels also remained open despite tensions.
Officials from the two countries continued discussions through bilateral mechanisms and international forums, including BIMSTEC and the United Nations.
The subsequent political transition and formation of a new government have created another opportunity. India’s outreach to the new administration—including high-level contacts, diplomatic engagement and invitations to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman—can potentially provide a foundation for rebuilding trust.
The decision to resume tourist visa services and maintain trade and energy links could also contribute to restoring normal relations. But a genuine reset cannot simply mean returning to the relationship model that existed before 2024. A reset must address the grievances that caused the deterioration in the first place.
Difficult issues cannot be ignored
Several sensitive issues remain at the centre of Bangladesh-India relations.
The presence of Sheikh Hasina in India is one of the most politically sensitive matters. Dhaka has sought her extradition following her conviction in Bangladesh, while New Delhi has said the request is being examined.
Other major concerns include border killings, alleged push-ins, smuggling, transnational crime and security cooperation.
Water sharing is another long-standing issue. The Ganges Water Sharing Treaty is approaching the end of its current term, while negotiations over the Teesta remain unresolved.
There are also concerns regarding individuals accused of serious crimes who may have crossed the border.
These issues cannot be permanently pushed aside in the hope that economic cooperation alone will resolve political tensions.
At the same time, neither country should allow difficult bilateral issues to destroy cooperation in areas where mutual interests are obvious.
Border security must become a shared responsibility
Border management deserves particular attention. Bangladesh has repeatedly raised concerns over deaths along the border. India, meanwhile, has concerns about smuggling, trafficking and illegal crossings. The solution cannot be a cycle of accusation and retaliation.
Both governments should establish stronger mechanisms for joint investigation, transparent accountability and prevention of lethal force. Where a border incident occurs, the responsible authorities should investigate it promptly and make the findings available through appropriate diplomatic channels.
Similarly, combating organised crime, trafficking and smuggling should be treated as a shared security responsibility rather than a political weapon. A peaceful border is in the interest of both countries.
The people must come before political interests
One of the most important lessons of the recent deterioration is that bilateral relations become fragile when they are perceived as being centred on particular political parties or leaders.
India has repeatedly stated that its relationship is with the people of Bangladesh. That principle should now be reflected in practice.
India should engage with Bangladesh’s elected government and all legitimate democratic stakeholders rather than being perceived as favouring a particular political group.
Bangladesh, for its part, should avoid turning relations with India into a permanent instrument of domestic politics. Neither anti-India politics nor unquestioning pro-India politics can serve Bangladesh’s long-term national interest.
A mature foreign policy should ask one question first: What benefits the people of Bangladesh while preserving national sovereignty and regional stability?
The same principle should guide India’s policy toward Bangladesh.
Security cooperation is better than strategic hostility :Bangladesh and India share security interests that neither country can effectively protect alone. Extremism, terrorism, human trafficking, cybercrime, organised crime, arms smuggling and cross-border criminal networks do not respect national boundaries.
Therefore, security agencies should maintain professional communication and information-sharing mechanisms even when political relations are strained.
Neighbouring states should not provide opportunities for one another’s internal conflicts to become sources of cross-border instability. Neither side should allow its territory to be used for activities that threaten the security of the other. This is not a concession. It is a basic principle of responsible neighbourhood policy.
Trade and connectivity can become the bridge
Economic relations offer perhaps the greatest opportunity for rebuilding trust. Bangladesh and India should work toward predictable trade rules, smoother border procedures, improved transport links, energy cooperation and greater investment.
Electricity imports, regional connectivity and supply-chain cooperation can create practical benefits for ordinary citizens. However, economic cooperation must also be based on fairness.
Bangladesh needs greater market access and a reduction of unnecessary trade barriers. India, meanwhile, needs reliable connectivity and a stable economic partner.
A relationship in which both sides gain is far more sustainable than one in which one side feels dependent and the other feels politically dominant.
Water cooperation must move beyond politics
The rivers connecting Bangladesh and India are another example of unavoidable interdependence. Water should never become a source of permanent political hostility.
The two countries should expand scientific cooperation on river management, flood control, sedimentation, climate change, dry-season flows and environmental protection.
The Ganges Water Sharing Treaty and the unresolved Teesta issue require political courage and technical negotiation. Climate change will make water management increasingly difficult in South Asia. Bangladesh and India therefore have an opportunity to demonstrate that shared rivers can become a source of cooperation rather than conflict.
A new diplomatic doctrine is needed:
The future of Bangladesh-India relations should be based on five principles:
◑First, equality: Neither country should expect the other to compromise its sovereignty or national interests.
◑Second, mutual security: The security of one should not be pursued at the expense of the other.
◑Third, transparency: Sensitive issues should be addressed through institutional diplomatic channels rather than public confrontation.
◑Fourth, accountability: Border incidents, criminal activities and violations of agreements must be investigated transparently.
◑Fifth, people-centred diplomacy: The ultimate purpose of foreign policy should be the safety, dignity and prosperity of ordinary citizens.
These principles would allow the two countries to disagree without becoming adversaries.
Two leaders at the table could open a new chapter
India has signaled its interest in direct engagement with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, including an invitation for a bilateral visit. A meeting between the two prime ministers could provide an opportunity to discuss the most difficult issues directly and establish a framework for sustained dialogue. But a summit should not be treated as an end in itself. The real test will be what happens afterwards. A successful summit should produce measurable progress on border security, trade, visas, water, energy, extradition and people-to-people relations.
Neither country can afford permanent hostility
Bangladesh and India do not have the luxury of becoming permanent adversaries. Their geography, economies and security interests are too closely connected.
Bangladesh cannot realistically design a long-term economic and security strategy by ignoring India. Likewise, India cannot secure its northeastern region, connectivity ambitions and regional interests without maintaining a stable and cooperative relationship with Bangladesh.
This does not mean Bangladesh should surrender its national interests. Nor does it mean India should accept every demand from Dhaka. It means both sides must learn to disagree without hostility and cooperate without compromising sovereignty.
The way forward: The recent tensions should be treated not as the beginning of a permanent rivalry but as an opportunity to build a more mature relationship. Bangladesh should maintain a balanced foreign policy based on national interest, sovereignty and friendship with all countries. India should recognise Bangladesh’s changed political reality and engage with its institutions and people accordingly.
Both sides should keep diplomatic channels open even during difficult periods. They should prioritise border peace, water cooperation, trade, energy, connectivity and security while addressing politically sensitive matters through established legal and diplomatic mechanisms. The relationship should also move beyond personalities and individual governments.
Governments change; geography does not. Political leaders come and go, but Bangladesh and India will remain neighbours. Therefore, the objective should not be to recreate yesterday’s relationship. It should be to build a new, balanced and durable partnership—one that is free from unnecessary hostility, protects sovereignty, respects public sentiment and delivers tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.