Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, met with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday, January 10, 2026, a day after Rahman was officially elected to the position. The meeting took place at Rahman's Gulshan office and lasted for approximately 40 minutes. According to BNP media cell spokesman Sayrul Kabir Khan, it was a courtesy call.

The meeting occurred in the lead-up to the scheduled February 12 elections. Several issues of bilateral interest were discussed during the meeting, according to the Dhaka Tribune. BNP Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir told reporters that discussions focused on establishing regional peace and security and identifying challenges in Bangladesh-India relations. Verma also congratulated Rahman on becoming BNP Chairperson.

Rahman's election as BNP Chairman came after a period of him steering the party as acting chairman since 2018. He formally assumed the role 10 days after the death of his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Notably, on the same day as Verma's visit, Rahman also met with Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Osman, the European Union's election observation team, and Egyptian Ambassador Omar Mahi Eldin Ahmed Fahmy. Humayun Kabir noted that the international community is closely watching Rahman's return and is interested in understanding his plans. Discussions during these meetings included how Bangladesh would be governed and how diplomatic relations would progress if the BNP forms the next government.

The BNP has emerged as a frontrunner in Bangladesh politics. They are seen as a main rival to Jamaat-e-Islami, particularly in the absence of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League, which was disbanded following a student-led movement in 2024.

This meeting signals a potential shift in relations between India and the BNP. S Jaishankar, India's Foreign Minister, met with Rahman in Dhaka and conveyed condolences on behalf of the Indian government after the death of Khaleda Zia. Jaishankar expressed confidence that Zia's vision would guide the development of the partnership between the two countries. This is a notable departure from India's past relationship with the BNP. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, former Indian foreign secretary, suggested that Rahman has matured during his time in exile and now desires an inclusive Bangladesh where minorities are safe.