More than 100 days after Tareq Rahman assumed office as Bangladesh’s prime minister, expectations of a reset in India-Bangladesh relations remain unmet. Despite early diplomatic gestures from New Delhi, including visits by India’s foreign minister and other officials, Dhaka sees little substantive progress. Key measures such as restoring transit facilities, normalizing visa services, and lifting trade restrictions have not been implemented, leaving bilateral ties largely unchanged since the interim government period.

Senior BNP leaders have tried to ease tensions, emphasizing that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India should not hinder relations. However, Dhaka feels its goodwill has not been reciprocated, citing India’s continued use of the term “illegal immigration” in official statements after BJP’s state election victories. A recent visit by Bangladesh’s foreign minister to Delhi failed to dispel mistrust, and Rahman is reportedly preparing visits to Malaysia and China as diplomatic alternatives.

Analysts warn that without renewal of the 1996 Ganges water treaty, Bangladesh’s irrigation projects and agriculture could face severe challenges. Combined with domestic health and law-and-order crises, the government faces mounting pressure to stabilize both internal and external fronts.