Bangladesh President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) called for quickly resolving the outstanding issues with India through discussions to further strengthen bilateral relations as Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi paid a courtesy call on him.
Mr. Alamgir, the longest-serving secretary general of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, assumed office as the 23rd President on August 21.
According to Bangabhaban officials, Mr. Trivedi was the first foreign envoy to meet and greet him. “High Commissioner Trivedi paid a courtesy call on President Alamgir at Bangabhaban and conveyed warm greetings, wishing him success in his continued service to the people of Bangladesh,” the Indian mission said in a social media post.
“The discussion underscored the deep-rooted bonds between India and Bangladesh, built on shared history, close cultural ties and strong people-to-people relations,” it said.
“They emphasised the importance of strengthening the bilateral partnership for the mutual benefit of the peoples of the two sovereign countries,” the mission said.
On his part, Mr. Alamgir said mutual trust and confidence between the peoples of the two countries would increase further if matters of mutual interest were resolved through fair and mutually acceptable solutions, according to the state-run BSS news agency.
He said India and Bangladesh can work more closely to achieve shared peace, development and prosperity by utilising the capabilities and potential of the peoples of both countries.
“Bangladesh attaches special importance to its relations with India as its closest neighbour and an important trade and development partner,” the President said.
Mr. Alamgir said Bangladesh is interested in building a respectful, forward-looking, mutually respectful and mutually beneficial partnership with India while upholding sovereign equality, national interests and dignity, and the welfare of the people.
“There is immense scope for further expanding cooperation in various fields, including trade, water resources management, technology, connectivity, culture and people-to-people relations between the two countries,” the President said.
The President urged India to take effective measures to ensure a fair share of the waters of common rivers, including the Ganges and the Teesta, his Press Secretary Md. Sarwar Alam said during a briefing after the meeting.
The spokesman said the Indian envoy told the President that his government was taking positive measures in this regard and added that India also attaches great importance to its relations with Bangladesh.
The High Commissioner reiterated his country’s commitment to further expanding cooperation between the two countries in various fields based on mutual respect, trust and cooperation.
The President hoped that relations between the two countries would become more fruitful, positive and people-oriented in his tenure.
Later, Mr. Trivedi met Minister of Shipping, Railways, Road Transport and Bridges Sheikh Rabiul Alam. State Minister for Road, Highways and Railways Habibur Rashid was also present.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed a range of issues of mutual interest relating to railways, shipping, connectivity and bilateral development projects.
“They underscored the importance of strengthening connectivity between India and Bangladesh as a key enabler of economic engagement and closer people-to-people ties,” the mission said in another post.
The meetings come amid efforts by the two neighbours to maintain and strengthen bilateral engagement following a period of strained ties over New Delhi providing political asylum to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India following her ouster in a youth-led agitation in August 2024.
In recent weeks, Mr. Trivedi has held a series of meetings with top political leaders of Bangladesh, including Prime Minister Rahman, underlining the need to create a conducive environment to deepen bilateral ties.
Published – September 08, 2026 07:39 pm IST
