NEW DELHI: India and Bangladesh have postponed their fifth round of consular dialogue, which was scheduled to take place in Dhaka on November 17–18, amid continuing diplomatic differences between the two neighbours. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said the talks will be rescheduled for a mutually convenient date, reaffirming New Delhi's commitment to maintaining positive and constructive relations with Dhaka.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the announcement on November 13, stating that India remained prepared to discuss bilateral issues through existing diplomatic mechanisms, including at the technical level. The postponement comes at a sensitive time for relations between the two countries, particularly following developments involving former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in India since leaving Bangladesh in August 2024.
However, the two sides have offered different explanations and clarifications regarding the timing of the postponement. While speculation linked the delay to Hasina's reported efforts to obtain travel documents and return to Bangladesh, a representative of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi said the decision to postpone the dialogue had been taken before her passport and national identity card request was submitted.
The Indian government has not publicly attributed the postponement to the Hasina issue.
MEA Reaffirms India's Commitment to Bilateral Engagement
Addressing the media in New Delhi on November 13, Jaiswal said India wanted a "positive, constructive and forward-looking" relationship with Bangladesh. He noted that both countries had continued engaging through established bilateral mechanisms covering trade, railway connectivity, water resources and border management.
Jaiswal also confirmed that the next consular dialogue would address matters relating to the Revised Travel Arrangement (RTA), which governs travel-related cooperation between the two countries. The consular dialogue provides an official platform for discussing issues affecting citizens of both countries. Its agenda is expected to include visa procedures, travel arrangements, border management, repatriation of detained nationals, the release and repatriation of fishermen, and mutual legal assistance.
The mechanism was established in 2017 to strengthen people-to-people contact and improve coordination on consular matters. Four rounds of dialogue have taken place so far, with the latest held in New Delhi on May 29, 2024.
The fifth round was expected to take place in Dhaka. Bangladesh had proposed November 17–18, and preparations had reportedly begun, including an inter-ministerial meeting in Dhaka on November 3. However, the meeting has now been postponed, with no revised dates announced by either government.
The MEA's statement indicates that New Delhi remains willing to continue diplomatic engagement despite unresolved differences.
Sheikh Hasina's Passport Request Adds to Diplomatic Sensitivity
The postponement has attracted additional attention because of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's reported plans to return to Bangladesh.
Hasina has been residing in India since August 5, 2024, when her government fell following a student-led mass uprising. She recently approached the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi seeking a new passport and national identity card, reportedly as part of preparations for a possible return in December.
Bangladesh's government rejected her passport request. Dhaka has also repeatedly sought her extradition from India under the bilateral extradition treaty.
Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal in November 2025 in connection with the deadly crackdown on protesters during the 2024 uprising. She has rejected the allegations and challenged the legitimacy of the proceedings.
The developments have complicated diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Dhaka, with the extradition issue remaining a significant point of disagreement.
Following reports that the consular dialogue had been postponed because of Hasina's passport request, Saidur Rahman, Press Minister at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, rejected the suggestion. He said the decision to postpone the meeting had been taken at least four days before the passport and national identity card request was submitted on November 9. He maintained that the two developments were unrelated.
India, meanwhile, has declined to comment on Hasina's possible return. Jaiswal said that his earlier reference to a legal matter concerned the extradition process and offered no further comment on her travel plans.
These statements underline the need to distinguish between the confirmed postponement of the dialogue and speculation about its reasons. Neither government has officially announced that Hasina's passport request caused the delay.
Trade, Border Management and Water-Sharing Remain Key Issues
Beyond the immediate diplomatic controversy, India and Bangladesh face several longstanding issues requiring continued bilateral engagement.
These include border security, trade, railway connectivity, water-sharing arrangements, visa access and the management of transboundary rivers. Both countries operate more than 40 bilateral mechanisms covering different areas of cooperation. Water-sharing remains particularly important as the Ganga Water Treaty approaches the end of its current term in December 2026. Discussions on renewing or revising the arrangement are expected to be significant for both sides.
The two countries also need to address difficulties affecting travel and people-to-people exchanges. Visa restrictions and changes in diplomatic relations have affected movement between India and Bangladesh, making the Revised Travel Arrangement an important subject for future discussions.
For now, the consular dialogue remains postponed without a confirmed replacement date. India's latest statement signals that diplomatic channels remain open, but the unresolved issues surrounding extradition, border management and water-sharing continue to test bilateral relations. The next round of talks will provide an opportunity for both governments to address these matters through established mechanisms and prevent disagreements from further affecting cooperation between the neighbours.
