‘Just Another Country’: Bangladesh Says ‘India Fascination’ Needs To End, Seeks Reset Of Ties

Last Updated:September 13, 2026, 10:40 PM IST

Kobir said Bangladesh needs to move beyond what he described as an “excessive preoccupation” with India and approach its relationship with New Delhi in a balanced manner.

Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiyun Kobir addresses a conference on the Rohingya crisis. (IMAGE: X)

Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Sunday said Dhaka needs to end its “excessive preoccupation” with India, while seeking to “reset” its relationship with New Delhi and “get out of the India fascination”.

India-Bangladesh ties have been strained over New Delhi providing refuge to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India following her ouster in a youth-led agitation in August 2024.

The Press Trust Of India was the first to report the remarks made by the Bangladeshi minister.

Kobir said Bangladesh needs to move beyond what he described as an “excessive preoccupation” with India and approach its relationship with New Delhi in a balanced manner, focusing on mutual interests and treating it as part of its broader engagement with other countries.

“We have to get out of the India fascination. India is just another country, and Bangladesh wants good bilateral relations with it,” he said.

Kobir’s remarks came two days after Bangladesh said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would not participate in the BRICS Summit hosted by India as he was not invited to the event, with the invitation instead extended to the BIMSTEC chair. The two-day summit concluded on Sunday.

He also described Bangladesh’s ties with India during the tenure of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina as “uncomfortable”.

Responding to a question, the minister said, “Breakfast in India, lunch in India, dinner in India — then when will you eat your own food?”

Rahman is scheduled to leave for New York on September 21 to attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly and stay there until September 26.

Asked about the possibility of a meeting between Rahman and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UNGA, Kobir said such meetings are often decided at the last moment during major international conferences.

“The primary focus of the Prime Minister’s visit is to address the UN General Assembly,” Kobir said, adding that details of the sideline meetings would be known in due course.

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Why did Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman not attend the BRICS Summit hosted by India?

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman did not participate in the BRICS Summit because he was not invited to the event. Instead, the invitation was extended to the BIMSTEC chair.

What is causing strain in the bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh?

Bilateral relations have been strained because India provided refuge to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August 2024 following her ouster in a youth-led agitation. Additionally, Bangladesh has requested her extradition to face a death penalty conviction.

What is Bangladesh’s new diplomatic stance regarding its relationship with India?

Bangladesh wants to “reset” its relationship with India by ending its “excessive preoccupation” and “fascination” with New Delhi. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir stated that India should be treated as “just another country” in a balanced manner focused on mutual interests.

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Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has …Read More

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