Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to pay an official visit to India in early September, following an invitation from her Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen has confirmed.
Speaking to journalists at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his return from New Delhi, Dr Momen stated that the proposed visit is likely to take place within the first ten days of September. He clarified, however, that the final schedule would be confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office after completion of necessary diplomatic formalities.
“The probable date of the Honourable Prime Minister’s visit to New Delhi could be within the first ten days of September,” Dr Momen said, adding that both Dhaka and New Delhi were keenly looking forward to the visit.
The foreign minister had been in the Indian capital to attend the 7th round of the Bangladesh–India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC), which he co-chaired alongside India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. The meeting served as a high-level platform for reviewing bilateral cooperation and addressing long-standing issues between the two neighbouring countries.
Dr Momen described the JCC meeting as “very productive”, noting that Bangladesh raised all major pending concerns, including the sharing of trans-boundary river waters and incidents of border killings. He said the Indian side responded positively, particularly on matters related to water resource management and regional cooperation.
Bangladesh also reiterated its expectation that the long-pending meeting of the Joint River Commission (JRC) would be convened ahead of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit. The JRC is viewed as a crucial mechanism for resolving water-sharing disputes and enhancing cooperation over shared rivers.
Another significant issue discussed during the JCC meeting was the repatriation of fugitive Bangladeshi businessman and former NRB Global Bank managing director Proshanta Kumar Halder, widely known as PK Halder. Dr Momen said Indian authorities assured Bangladesh that Halder would be handed over after the completion of legal procedures in India.
The upcoming visit is expected to further strengthen Bangladesh–India relations, which span trade, connectivity, security, energy cooperation, and regional stability. Analysts believe that Sheikh Hasina’s visit could result in renewed momentum on unresolved bilateral matters and the signing of additional cooperation agreements.
Key Issues Discussed Ahead of the Visit
| Area of Discussion | Details |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister’s Visit | Likely in first 10 days of September |
| Joint Consultative Commission | 7th round held in New Delhi |
| Water Sharing | Positive Indian response on trans-boundary rivers |
| Joint River Commission | Bangladesh expects meeting before PM’s visit |
| Border Issues | Border killings raised by Bangladesh |
| PK Halder Case | India assured handover after legal procedures |
With both governments expressing optimism, the anticipated visit is seen as a significant diplomatic engagement that could shape the next phase of Bangladesh–India cooperation.