Sheikh Hasina, water and trade: Roadblocks in India-Bangladesh ties

NewsIndia NewsSheikh Hasina, water and trade: Roadblocks in India-Bangladesh ties Sheikh Hasina, water and trade: Roadblocks in India-Bangladesh ties Karan Manral / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Nov 11, 2026, 19:32 IST Over two years ago, student protests against the quota system in Bangladesh’s government jobs evolved into a nationwide uprising that brought down the government of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, forcing her to flee to India.

The political upheaval ushered in a period of considerable strain in bilateral relations with India, and New Delhi-Dhaka ties have since deteriorated significantly. This is reflected in the fact that Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who assumed office in February, is yet to visit New Delhi, despite having travelled to other countries in the region.The tensions have also spilled over into negotiations on the future of the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty and bilateral trade.

Political mistrust has complicated efforts to reach a consensus on water-sharing, while reciprocal trade restrictions have added to economic friction.These issues have emerged as significant roadblocks in bilateral ties.

The challenge for New Delhi and Dhaka, therefore, is not merely to resolve disagreements but to ensure that political differences do not undermine the broader framework of bilateral cooperation.The Sheikh Hasina question: At the heart of diplomatic tension The departure of Sheikh Hasina from Bangladesh in August 2024 marked a turning point in bilateral ties.

Her subsequent presence in India became a major source of disagreement between New Delhi and Dhaka. During her tenure, Sheikh Hasina had maintained close relations with successive governments in New Delhi, cooperating on issues such as counterterrorism, connectivity, transit and regional security.

India, in turn, viewed her as an important partner in maintaining stability in its eastern neighbourhood. Who is Dinesh Trivedi, India's high commissioner to Bangladesh According to Sreeradha Datta, the move signals New Delhi’s seriousness about improving ties with Bangladesh and has, therefore, been well-received in Dhaka.“He (Trivedi) has been able to have a good outreach and he seems to have got along well with the Bangladeshis.

His appointment has been well received and it probably conveyed to Bangladesh that the government was giving more attention and hoping that a political appointee would have greater ability to move things,” she said.Having been in the post for only six months, whether Trivedi can help bring about a broader reset in the relationship remains to be seen.The road ahead for India-Bangladesh ties India-Bangladesh relationship remains strained by a range of unresolved issues, extending beyond the impasse over Sheikh Hasina’s extradition to disputes over river-water sharing and trade.

These include concerns over India’s alleged “forced push-ins” of suspected undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants, the alleged killings of Bangladeshi “civilians” by the Border Security Force at the India-Bangladesh border, and Dhaka’s pro-Pakistan tilt that began under the interim administration, among others.Join conversation InsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig Development