A Strategic Pivot: India-Bangladesh Relations and Tarique Rahman’s Rise in 2026

They've shaken hands, but the regional chess pieces are still moving. On January 6, 2026, India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met with Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), in a move that marks a stunning departure from decades of diplomatic animosity. The meeting followed the death of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on December 30, 2025, providing a somber backdrop for a major geopolitical realignment.

India-Bangladesh Relations 2026: From Hostility to Necessity

For years, New Delhi viewed the BNP with deep suspicion, primarily due to its alliance with Islamist groups and perceived pro-Pakistan tilt. India's natural partner was the secular Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina. However, after Hasina’s15-year rule collapsed in 2024 amid student-led uprisings—which killed nearly 1,400 people—India found its primary ally ousted and living in exile in New Delhi.

As Bangladesh gears up for national elections in February 2026, Jaishankar’s cordial meeting with Rahman signals that India’s ready to do business with its former rivals. According to Al Jazeera, Jaishankar handed Rahman a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing confidence that Khaleda Zia’s values would guide their future partnership—a phrase that would've been unthinkable just a few years ago.

The Rebranding of Tarique Rahman

After 17 years in exile, Tarique Rahman has returned to Dhaka with a more mature and inclusive rhetoric. He's spoken about protecting minorities and ensuring stability, messages that resonate well with India’s concerns. Analysts suggest that the BNP’s break from the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami has given New Delhi the political cover it needs to engage with Rahman. While the past is filled with mutual mistrust, the upcoming election makes this partnership a matter of geopolitical necessity.