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New Delhi is reportedly reevaluating its diplomatic approach, focusing on Tarique Rahman and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), despite past mistrust stemming from the 2004 ten-truck arms seizure incident. India appears ready to invite Tarique Rahman for a state visit if BNP comes to power.
Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in a mass uprising in July last year, Bangladesh-India relations have seen some improvement, but they remain far from normal. With the upcoming national elections, there is little indication that ties will fully stabilize soon. In this new reality, India is now awaiting an elected government in Bangladesh. New Delhi is prioritizing a swift and participatory election while realigning its diplomatic strategy, considering BNP as a potential future government. Recent months have shown a thaw in the previously strained relations between India and BNP, particularly moving past the deep mistrust caused by the 2004 arms seizure. A diplomatic source revealed that if BNP assumes power, New Delhi is prepared to invite Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of BNP, for an official visit to India. **Indian Diplomat’s Statement** “Positive changes are noticeable in Tarique Rahman’s political stance. As a politician, he has matured significantly. If he becomes the head of government, why wouldn’t we invite him to India? This is under consideration,” an Indian diplomat told *Jago News*. The diplomat added, “India wants to see a democratic environment in Bangladesh. We hope that a credible election in February will establish such an environment.” **Historical Context** During the BNP-led four-party alliance government (2001–2006), Bangladesh-India relations deteriorated due to issues like internal security, border tensions, and terrorism. The 2004 arms seizure in Chittagong, where ten trucks of weapons were intercepted, was a flashpoint. Indian officials at the time claimed the arms were intended for separatist groups in India’s northeast, a charge BNP denied, asserting the seizure reflected their goodwill. In a 2023 interview with *India Today*, Major General Gaganjit Singh, former deputy director of India’s Defense Intelligence Agency, alleged that BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami facilitated arms supplies to separatist groups like ULFA, with Tarique Rahman at the center of the operation. **Shifting Dynamics** Since Sheikh Hasina fled to India after the August 5 uprising last year, India has shifted focus toward improving ties with BNP. Concerns about BNP’s former ally Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamist parties, viewed as hardline by New Delhi, have led India to prioritize BNP as a more viable partner. Professor Sabbir Ahmed from Dhaka University’s Political Science Department noted, “Diplomatic relations are driven by national interests. India realizes its Sheikh Hasina-centric diplomacy has failed. BNP has likely clarified its stance, leading to mutual understanding.” **BNP’s Position** BNP considers relations with India important but emphasizes a strategic and dignified approach based on national interests. On September 22 last year, India’s High Commissioner Pranay Verma met with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in Dhaka, discussing bilateral ties, existing issues, and potential cooperation. In an interview with *ANI*, Mirza Fakhrul said, “BNP has assured India that, if in power, we will not allow Bangladesh’s soil to be used by separatist groups. Misunderstandings between BNP and India are thawing, and we hope for better relations.” **Challenges Ahead** Despite efforts to mend ties, tensions persist. Indian media reports on minority persecution and the Bangladesh Army have drawn criticism from Dhaka. Controversial statements by interim government advisors, such as Mahfuz Alam’s December 16 Facebook post about a “new arrangement” involving parts of India, and Major General (Retd.) A.L.M. Fazlur Rahman’s remarks about occupying Indian states, have strained.
