Diplomacy is often likened to a delicate dance, but when it unfolds between neighbors like India and Bangladesh, with a complex, interwoven history, the choreography becomes infinitely more intricate, the accompanying music fraught with tension, and the stakes undeniably higher.

This reality was subtly yet profoundly on display this week in New Delhi, as Bangladesh belatedly celebrated the 54th anniversary of its independence.

Originally observed on March 26, the commemoration was postponed, first due to the arrival of Dhaka’s new envoy to India, and then by the observance of Ramadan. Yet, this delay might have been serendipitous, hinting at a necessary recalibration of tone, message, and mutual expectations between the two nations.

On the evening of June 19, amidst the soft glow of the diplomatic ceremony, High Commissioner M. Riaz Hamidullah delivered a speech that resonated less as a formal address and more as a strategic overture. “We must reimagine bilateral and regional cooperation,” he urged, “not as a legacy of the past, but as a strategic necessity for collective growth and resilience.”

This was a pointed message, clearly aimed at a relationship currently undergoing significant re-evaluation. Since the dramatic ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government last August, ties between India and Bangladesh have noticeably cooled.

New Delhi had grown accustomed to the predictability of Hasina’s long-standing administration, and the sudden upheaval, leading to an interim government in Dhaka, has left India treading cautiously.

India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, the guest of honor at the event, subtly acknowledged this shift. In his brief remarks, he reiterated India’s preference for a “stable, peaceful, democratic and prosperous Bangladesh” — a carefully worded statement that conveyed both reassurance and a hint of reservation.

Forward-Looking approach

Yet, diplomacy isn’t forged from words alone; sometimes, its truest expression lies in shared experiences, even culinary ones. Singh, hailing from a family steeped in Lucknow’s refined Awadhi culinary tradition, sampled the celebrated Dhakaiya Kacchi Biriyani, specially flown in with chefs from Dhaka’s legendary Fakhruddin Catering.

His verdict? “Lazeez”(delicious), high praise indeed from a palate trained on generations of North Indian gastronomic refinement.

Beyond the flavors, Jamdani sarees — Bangladesh’s most iconic handloom art form — were also prominently displayed, an elegant nod to cultural diplomacy. Singh commendably acknowledged their intricate weaving techniques and craftsmanship, a gesture that attendees noted as far more than ornamental.

The event itself drew a significant turnout, with diplomats, scholars, civil society members, and journalists mingling over biriyani and friendly conversations.

The first genuine thaw in the recent chill between the two nations came in early April, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit.

It was a brief but significant gesture, acknowledging a shared historical legacy and the necessity of a forward-looking perspective.

Still, underlying tensions persist. New Delhi has quietly expressed concern over rising ultra-nationalist rhetoric and alleged human rights backsliding under Bangladesh’s interim administration — charges Dhaka has mostly rejected. Trade frictions, including sporadic tit-for-tat restrictions at key land ports, have further complicated efforts to reset relations.

Yet, amid this bureaucratic stiffness and political hedging, High Commissioner Hamidullah has emerged as a practitioner of something increasingly rare in regional diplomacy: soft power with strategic intent. A veteran of previous postings in New Delhi, he’s no stranger to the emotional texture of India-Bangladesh ties.

In his speech last Thursday, Hamidullah deliberately shifted the focus from friction to familiarity, invoking shared language, cultural bonds, and the deeply personal dimension of cross-border connections.

With thousands of Bangladeshi students enrolled at Indian universities and a porous 4,096-kilometer land border facilitating daily human interchange, he argued that this relationship simply cannot be reduced to geopolitics alone.

“Our collaboration cannot be judged solely by the memoranda signed or the meetings held,” he asserted. “We aspire for a peaceful and prosperous neighborhood that upholds universal values while also protecting national interests.”

For regional betterment

Hamidullah backed his vision with concrete examples of practical cooperation already underway. He noted that bilateral trade has grown in double digits over the past fiscal year, underscoring Dhaka’s view of its partnership with New Delhi as critical to broader regional development.

He cited a recent energy-sharing milestone: Nepal now exports electricity to Bangladesh via Indian infrastructure–a quiet but powerful illustration of what sub-regional connectivity could look like when politics takes a backseat to pragmatism.

“These mutually gainful tasks are already in place,” he stated, reiterating that “It is this understanding that calls on our two nations to reimagine cooperation not as an inheritance, but as a strategic imperative.”

Bangladesh, currently at the helm of BIMSTEC, is signaling its intent to use this chairmanship as a platform to reinvigorate a sluggish regional agenda. In that sense, Hamidullah’s message wasn’t solely directed at India; it was a broader call to South Asia to recalibrate its internal calculus in favor of collective resilience.

State Minister Singh, in his own remarks, appeared to recognize the urgency of this pivot. Echoing Hamidullah, he invoked the “shared experiences and sacrifices” that bind the two countries, and emphasized the need for a partnership that is “resilient and forward-looking.”

Minister Singh, too, offered tangible signals that the rhetoric of cooperation is being matched — if gradually — by action. He cited the upcoming inauguration of the second Cargo Greater Integrated Check Post between Petrapole and Benapole, scheduled for October 2025.

He also highlighted the recent launch of cross-border energy trade, with 40 megawatts of hydropower from Nepal now flowing to Bangladesh through Indian transmission lines—a development he described as “a very positive step” and a testament to “our shared commitment to regional integration and prosperity.”

Reiterating New Delhi’s broader strategic outlook, Singh stressed that India remains “committed to fostering greater inter-linkages and connectivity with Bangladesh across all spheres.”

His parting words — “India will continue to support the people of Bangladesh for a mutually beneficial and friendly relationship” — landed with deliberate reassurance, even as complexities continue to shape the bilateral landscape.

The evening ended with more than ceremonial toasts. It offered, instead, a cautiously optimistic overture where symbols of culture and taste met the contours of realpolitik, hinting at a future where shared interests might yet bridge historical divides.

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Faisal Mahmud is the Minister (Press) of Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. This article was originally published in The Diplomat Magazine. It is republished here.