'We don't only share border, we also share dreams,' says Trivedi after talks with PM

Describing his first meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as fruitful, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi today (10 August) said Bangladesh and India not only share a border but also share dreams.

"We are looking forward. Our invitation is there in place. We are positive that if the two leaders meet together, there will be discussion. There will be issues in democracies. It's not democracy if there is no issue. But there is only one people's issue, which is good relations. It's a win-win situation if there is a good relationship," he told reporters when his attention was drawn to the outcome of the meeting.

The High Commissioner said they met more as public figures.

"I am not a diplomat. It's like people's representatives to people's representatives. I am very delighted that we have met. I didn't feel that I met him for the first time. Very good, very humble, on the ground, what will be the discussion - people-to-people relations," said the Indian diplomat.

The envoy said no issue cannot be solved. "I can tell you this confidently."

He, however, did not comment when asked whether the Prime Minister would be attending the BRICS Summit's outreach session next month in New Delhi.

The High Commissioner also met Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed after his meeting with the Prime Minister.

Despite brief tensions that surfaced between Dhaka and New Delhi following former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's recent speech in New Delhi, Bangladesh and India are heading toward renewed engagement, signaling their intent to take bilateral relations forward constructively.

Dinesh Trivedi, who submitted his credentials to the President on June 25, discussed issues of mutual interest in two separate meetings on Monday.

Ahead of his meeting with the Prime Minister, the High Commissioner met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman at state guesthouse Padma on Sunday afternoon as both sides continued efforts to engage constructively.

Dhaka has reaffirmed its "Bangladesh First" policy and underscored its commitment to a forward-looking and mutually respectful relationship with India based on sovereign equality, mutual trust and understanding, and mutual benefit.

Bangladesh and India have more than forty bilateral mechanisms covering areas including water, trade, border management and consular issues.

India is willing to engage with the government in Bangladesh by gradually reactivating all the bilateral mechanisms, pursuing a relationship that keeps 'people at the center' of everything, a diplomatic source told UNB.

On Sunday, the High Commissioner described Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as people's persons and expressed optimism that solutions to issues between the two countries could be found if the two leaders meet.

"We all respect him (PM Tarique Rahman) a lot. He speaks from his heart. I listened to his speeches many times…. He is a people's person, our Prime Minister (Modi), too. I think when two leaders meet, a lot of problems are sorted out. I have full confidence," he told reporters.

The High Commissioner said people are united and there will certainly be a solution. "I am very confident. There is nothing negative. Things remain positive."

On 4 August, India confirmed that an invitation had been extended to Prime Minister Tarique to attend the BRICS Summit as the BIMSTEC Chair, while a separate bilateral invitation has been in place since February this year.

India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 12-13 September, focusing on global cooperation, trade and sustainable development.

"You would be aware that a formal invitation to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India was extended when he assumed office in February 2026," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a media briefing in New Delhi.

As far as the BRICS Summit is concerned, he said India has separately extended an invitation to the Bangladesh Prime Minister in his capacity as the current Chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to attend the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

"The invitation has been extended as per the standard practice being followed in BRICS for the outreach sessions. Other heads of regional groups have also been invited in a similar manner," the MEA spokesperson said.

BIMSTEC comprises seven countries in the Bay of Bengal region - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

In April last year, Bangladesh assumed the chairmanship of the regional grouping for the next two years, reaffirming its commitment to advancing regional cooperation and development.

"We are reviewing it now. We will take a decision and inform you immediately," Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur told reporters on July 29 when asked about Bangladesh's response to the invitation.

Energy cooperation

On 6 August, High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi met Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood and exchanged views on further strengthening cooperation in the power and energy sectors.

The discussion focused on the importance of cross-border power and energy connectivity as a key pillar of Bangladesh-India economic partnership.

Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing cooperation based on mutual interest and mutual benefit, with a view to enhancing energy security, promoting sustainable development, and supporting the prosperity of the people of both countries.

"We import diesel from India through the pipeline, and we have requested them to supply more," the Energy Minister told reporters after the meeting.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam reiterated that Dhaka wants constructive engagement with New Delhi, noting that the two neighbours have a wide range of bilateral issues requiring continued dialogue.

"We want our relations... because we have many issues with India, many bilateral issues - water, energy, and the border - that need to be resolved through discussion and dialogue," she said on Thursday.

Shama Obaed, however, emphasised that Bangladesh's relationship with India extends far beyond the current issue.

"A country has many aspects to its relationship with another country. We need to have a lot of dialogue with them, and we need to hold discussions. We have cooperation on energy, we have a major issue with them over water, and there are issues on the border - these have to be resolved through discussions," she said.

People-centric efforts

A mother's simple request can sometimes spark meaningful change, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Sunday, noting that at his first inspection of the Indian Visa Application Centre, a mother appealed to High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi for a safe play area where children could stay while their parents applied for visas.

Just a few weeks later, her request became a reality, and on Sunday she returned to inaugurate the very play area she had envisioned, along with her child.

"A small initiative, but one that reflects a larger spirit: India delivers. It is these people-centric efforts that bring India-Bangladesh ties to life, a relationship whose strongest foundation is its people," said the High Commission.