Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was supposed to visit India as the first foreign guest of the new Indian government at the end of June or early July. However, with some last-minute changes in the plan, her Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, may come to Bangladesh instead at the end of June.
In that case, it would mark Modi's inaugural bilateral visit to any country in his third term as prime minister and his third trip to Bangladesh as the head of government following his visits in 2015 and 2021.
Sheikh Hasina arrived back home on Monday following her trip to New Delhi to attend Modi's swearing-in. Although it was more of a courtesy visit, Dhaka is now eager for Modi to reciprocate the gesture by visiting Bangladesh.
During the most recent bilateral visit in September 2021, it was Sheikh Hasina who travelled to New Delhi. Additionally, she was also in the Indian capital in September last year as a guest at the annual Group of 20 (G20) summit, but this did not constitute a bilateral visit.
According to diplomatic protocol, it is the Indian prime minister's turn to visit Bangladesh for the next bilateral visit. Despite occasional departures from protocol in India-Bangladesh relations, particularly during the Sheikh Hasina-Narendra Modi era, Dhaka now wants Modi to come to Bangladesh.
During a one-on-one meeting between Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Sunday, the latter was formally invited to undertake this visit through an invitation letter.
However, the specific date for the suggested visit remains undecided, although insiders indicate that authorities are considering one or two dates towards the end of this month.
It is worth noting that Modi's previous visit to Bangladesh was in March 2021, which was over three years ago.
Just last month, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra presented an invitation letter to Sheikh Hasina, inviting her to visit India.
Although it is rare for a foreign leader to be given such an invitation during an election or before a new government takes office, India did not hesitate to do this for Sheikh Hasina.
The reason for this was simple: before her anticipated visit to China in July, Delhi was keen for Sheikh Hasina to visit India and for the two countries to send a message to the global community.
Should Modi indeed visit Bangladesh this month, it goes without saying that Sheikh Hasina's anticipated trip to India – for which she has already confirmed her acceptance – will be postponed by several months at the very least.
Regardless, it is certain that a bilateral exchange between India and Bangladesh at the highest level will occur before Sheikh Hasina travels to China.
