Eid diplomacy: PM Modi, Bangladesh’s Rahman exchange greetings amid push to strengthen ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Tarique Rahman exchanged Eid greetings this week in a gesture of diplomatic goodwill, with Rahman expressing hope that the occasion would further strengthen the longstanding bonds of friendship and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

In a letter to Modi on Friday, Rahman said Eid-ul-Fitr is a cherished occasion that reflects the enduring values of compassion, solidarity, and harmony. “It unites communities in a spirit of celebration, sharing, and generosity. I join Your Excellency in wishing that this blessed occasion will bring peace, prosperity, and happiness to our peoples and to communities across the world,” he said. The message followed Modi’s own greetings to Rahman and the people of Bangladesh on Eid.

Rahman had earlier written to Modi outlining his vision for India-Bangladesh relations, signalling that Dhaka is prepared to move forward without being constrained by past issues.

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Voted to office with a landslide majority, Rahman highlighted three key points in his February 26 letter. First, he emphasised the “historic and long-standing” ties between the two countries, noting that Bangladesh attaches high importance to its relationship with India, shaped by shared history, culture, and geography. He also pointed to the deep-rooted connections and commonalities between the people of both nations.

Second, Rahman stressed the need for both countries to address issues in a manner that benefits their citizens. He said this approach could unlock significant shared gains and reiterated Dhaka’s desire to advance ties based on dignity, equality, mutual trust, respect, and “benefit-sharing.”

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Third, in a more personal outreach to Modi, Rahman said he was mindful of the Indian Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He suggested that both leaders should work to reinvigorate cooperative engagement to ensure peace, harmony, stability, and long-term prosperity “for all people.” The reference to Viksit Bharat is notable as it has become a key element of India’s foreign policy approach, with initiatives aimed at strengthening development partnerships with friendly nations in line with its strategic interests.