Amid a shifting political landscape in Bangladesh, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, met with Tarique Rahman, the newly appointed Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The meeting, described as a courtesy call, occurred a day after Rahman officially assumed the position following the death of his mother, Khaleda Zia, the former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson.

The meeting, held at the BNP's Gulshan office in Dhaka around 5 pm Bangladesh time, lasted approximately 40 minutes. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed were also present. While the specific agenda of the meeting was not disclosed, BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan stated that several issues of bilateral interest were discussed.

This interaction is viewed as part of India's ongoing diplomatic engagement with key political stakeholders in Bangladesh, including the primary opposition party. The meeting follows a series of contacts between the BNP and Indian officials in recent years, including a dinner hosted by High Commissioner Verma for a BNP delegation in March 2023 and meetings between Verma and senior BNP leaders in September 2024.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously conveyed support to Khaleda Zia's family during her illness, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended her funeral. Modi also sent a condolence letter to Tarique Rahman.

Tarique Rahman's assumption of the BNP chairmanship is seen as a pivotal moment, widely positioning him as the party's prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming national elections scheduled for February 12. This development unfolds against a backdrop of political transition in Bangladesh, particularly after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in 2024. The Awami League has since been barred from contesting polls.

The meeting also takes place amid reports of rising violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh. On Friday, prior to the meeting, New Delhi urged Dhaka to take decisive action against the recurring attacks on minorities in the country.

The current political climate has seen strained relations between India and Bangladesh since the ousting of Sheikh Hasina's government in 2024, following student-led protests. The interim government has requested India to hand over Hasina, who is facing a death sentence related to the crackdown on protesters. Demonstrations and political groups have recently accused New Delhi of interfering in Bangladesh's internal affairs, and some Indian diplomatic establishments have been attacked, leading to temporary suspension of visa services for Bangladeshi citizens. Against this backdrop, Verma's meeting with Rahman signals India's intention to maintain open communication channels with all major political forces in Bangladesh.