Published: 11:14 PM, 08 September 2026
DELHI DIPLOMATS SABOTAGE DHAKA RESET: BUREAUCRATIC RIFT BLOCKS HIGH-LEVEL TIES
An internal institutional rift inside India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is actively derailing efforts to repair diplomatic relations with Bangladesh, according to veteran Indian journalist Coomi Kapoor. Writing in her column Inside Track: Outsiders Unwelcome for The Indian Express, Kapoor reveals that career diplomats in both capitals see a powerful lobby within South Block actively undermining rapprochement.
The central flashpoint is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appointment of former union minister Dinesh Trivedi as High Commissioner to Dhaka-the first non-career diplomat to hold the post. PM Modi had previously signaled a desire for more political appointments across neighboring capitals. However, the prospect has deeply unsettled the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) cadre, which fears a high-profile success by Trivedi could surrender more ambassadorial posts to political outsiders.
High Commissioner Trivedi's ground efforts to close the bilateral gap have repeatedly run into domestic roadblocks. Following an August meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, preliminary dates for an official visit to India were agreed upon. But once those dates leaked, MEA officials "acted as a spoiler" to collapse the visit.
The ministry then permitted ousted Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina to address a virtual news conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) in Delhi to attack the Dhaka government. The permission broke long-standing protocol-the same ministry had blocked a proposed Hasina appearance at the Delhi Press Club a year prior and refused a British emissary permission to speak for then-imprisoned Khaleda Zia in 2018. In an abrupt turn two weeks later, the government deployed nearly 50 police officers to enforce the cancellation of an FCC seminar featuring speakers with alleged Awami League links.
Diplomatic insiders characterize this pattern as a calculated strategy rather than an oversight. A dominant faction in Delhi appears intent on keeping Hasina in the public eye so Dhaka remains wary of a fresh start. Consequently, relations have soured, and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is now considered unlikely to attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Delhi.
Friendly diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India can bring many benefits to both countries. As two neighboring nations with shared history, culture, rivers, and economic interests, Bangladesh and India have strong reasons to maintain peaceful and cooperative relations.
Sound diplomatic relations can increase trade and investment. India is an important trading partner of Bangladesh, while Bangladesh offers a growing market for Indian goods and services. Better cooperation can reduce trade barriers, improve transportation, and encourage businesses from both countries to invest in each other. This can create jobs and support economic growth.
Friendly relations can improve regional connectivity. Bangladesh can provide important transport and trade routes between India's northeastern states and other parts of South Asia. Cooperation in roads, railways, ports, and waterways can reduce transportation costs and benefit businesses and ordinary people. Stronger connectivity can also promote tourism and cultural exchange.
Cooperation can help both countries manage shared rivers and environmental challenges. Bangladesh and India share many rivers, so constructive dialogue is essential for water management, flood control, and environmental protection. Working together can help reduce the effects of natural disasters and protect the livelihoods of millions of people.
Diplomatic friendship can also strengthen security cooperation. Both countries can work together to prevent terrorism, human trafficking, smuggling, and other cross-border crimes. At the same time, educational, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges can deepen mutual understanding and respect.
Peaceful relations between Bangladesh and India can contribute to stability in South Asia. Instead of allowing disagreements to create tension, both countries can solve problems through dialogue and negotiation. Respect for each other's sovereignty and national interests can build lasting trust.
In conclusion, friendly Bangladesh-India relations can promote economic development, connectivity, environmental cooperation, security, and regional peace. By respecting differences and focusing on shared interests, the two countries can build a stronger and more prosperous future together.
The underlying conflict remains structural: a political envoy was dispatched to mend ties, but key elements in South Block view his potential success as an institutional threat. Until New Delhi resolves its internal feud, personal diplomacy in Dhaka will continue to collide with bureaucratic resistance at home.
>>Bernard Priyam, AA
