India-Bangladesh Relations At A Crossroads: What Jaishankar’s Dhaka Visit Really Signals

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s brief, four-hour visit to Dhaka for the funeral of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia was far more than a ceremonial call. It was a carefully calibrated diplomatic signal at a moment when India–Bangladesh relations are under visible strain. By choosing to engage, India made clear that it does not wish to abandon a neighbour that has long been central to its “Neighbourhood First” policy. From a golden chapter to growing uncertainty For much of the last decade, Bangladesh had been the most convincing success story of that policy. Stable governance under Sheikh Hasina, deep…