The newly elected government in Bangladesh, led by Tarique Rahman and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has expressed its intent to strengthen ties with India through mutual respect, trade and deeper people-to-people engagement.

Humayun Kabir, who oversees international relations for Rahman and is expected to play a key role in the new administration, said the focus will be on building stronger cooperation between citizens of both countries rather than limiting ties to official exchanges.

He indicated that India would be among the countries the new leadership plans to visit, though no specific timeline was shared. “Obviously there are certain domestic priorities and then international engagements. Of course India will be one of the countries that we will visit among other countries in the region,” Kabir said in an interaction with media.

Expanding engagement beyond official visits

Kabir underlined the importance of expanding the scope of bilateral relations beyond high-level diplomatic visits. While acknowledging that reciprocal visits between senior officials are a normal feature of ties between neighbouring nations, he stressed the need to widen engagement across broader sections of society.

He said the BNP-led government intends to deepen cooperation through trade and investment while strengthening grassroots-level connections.

On regional balance and Pakistan ties

Responding to questions about Bangladesh’s approach towards Pakistan during the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, Kabir said Dhaka’s foreign policy would not be guided by choosing sides in regional tensions.

“It’s normal and we need to normalise relations in the region and regardless of the tensions between India and Pakistan, for us it is not to take sides on this issue,” he said, adding that relations would be shaped by mutual respect and national interest.

Kabir also criticised former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, alleging that her foreign policy approach was perceived as one-sided in its engagement with India. He said the new government seeks to avoid what he described as a country-centric or country-dependent model of diplomacy.

New Delhi’s cautious optimism

From India’s perspective, the decisive electoral outcome in Bangladesh, which delivered a landslide to the BNP, marks the end of the interim phase and opens the possibility of a diplomatic reset.

Indian officials are said to be cautiously optimistic about engaging with Rahman’s leadership. While acknowledging past differences with BNP governments, New Delhi believes the new administration may adopt a pragmatic approach shaped by economic priorities and regional stability concerns.

Petteri Orpo will travel to India from February 17 to 20 to participate in the India AI Impact Summit and hold bilateral discussions with Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Orpo is scheduled to meet PM Modi on February 18. He will also attend the India AI Impact Summit on February 19, which is being hosted in New Delhi.

The Finnish Prime Minister is accompanied by a business delegation comprising representatives of 22 Finnish companies. According to an official release, the visit aims to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, particularly in digitalisation and sustainability.

Focus on AI governance and innovation

The India AI Impact Summit, being held from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, will bring together Heads of State and Government, international organisations, AI experts and leading companies from across the globe.

The summit is designed to promote a shared understanding of global AI governance principles and foster international cooperation. Prime Minister Orpo had also taken part in the AI Action Summit in Paris in 2025.

“At the summit, we will highlight Finland’s strengths in the fields of AI policy and innovation. Finland has world-class expertise in AI and the potential to lead the way in its use. At the same time, we will also promote the safe and responsible use of AI,” Orpo said, according to the release.

He noted that geopolitical and economic competition is intensifying, underlining the need for Finland to remain active in global technology discussions. He also emphasised cooperation with like-minded countries while seeking broader international consensus.

During the summit, Orpo will deliver Finland’s national address, visit country pavilions and participate in side events organised by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and National Association of Software and Service Companies. The programme also includes a dinner hosted by PM Modi and other high-level engagements.

Strategic partnership and trade opportunities

The release highlighted India’s growing global role and described bilateral ties as strong and expanding. The inauguration of Finland’s new Consulate General in Mumbai in 2022 was cited as a significant step in strengthening engagement.

Orpo said Finland aims to deepen cooperation with India in the areas of digitalisation and sustainability, reinforcing the new strategic partnership between the two nations.

He also referred to the conclusion of negotiations on the EU-India Free Trade Agreement on January 27, 2026. Talks on the agreement had been underway since 2007, with some interruptions. The pact is expected to improve access for European companies to India’s expanding market and enhance the broader EU-India partnership.

Summit structure and agenda

The India AI Impact Summit will revolve around three pillars — People, Planet and Progress. Discussions will focus on employment and skilling, sustainable and energy-efficient AI, and economic as well as social development.

Seven thematic working groups, co-chaired by representatives from the Global North and Global South, will present deliverables such as proposals for AI Commons, trusted AI tools, shared compute infrastructure and sector-specific AI use case compendiums.

The event will also address AI safety, governance, ethical use, data protection and India’s approach to sovereign AI, including the development of indigenous foundation models for strategic sectors.

An AI Impact Expo will showcase practical AI applications in healthcare, agriculture, education, climate action, energy efficiency and accessibility. The summit will further spotlight national skilling initiatives, including “Yuva AI for All”, a free course aimed at building basic AI awareness among students and professionals.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met representatives of several farmer organisations at his Parliament office to discuss concerns related to the proposed India-US trade framework. The meeting has triggered sharp political reactions, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that the interaction was “stage-managed”.

According to details shared, Gandhi — who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha — held discussions with representatives of 17 major farmer unions from across the country. The farm leaders conveyed apprehensions that the trade agreement could adversely affect cultivators, particularly those growing corn, soyabean, cotton, fruits and nuts.

They urged the need for a nationwide movement to safeguard farmers’ rights and protect their incomes from any potential impact of the agreement.

BJP alleges ‘artificial narrative’

Responding to the development, Union Minister Piyush Goyal criticised the Congress leader, terming the meeting “artificial” and “baseless”. In a video post on X, Goyal alleged that Gandhi was attempting to mislead farmers.

“Mr Rahul Gandhi has once again rolled out a stage-managed, most artificial and fake narrative,” Goyal said. He further claimed that individuals posing as farmer leaders were aligned with the Congress party and were part of an orchestrated attempt to create confusion.

The minister added that the government had fully protected the interests of farmers in the India-US trade deal and accused the opposition of provoking sentiment against the country’s economic policies.

What the India-US trade framework proposes

The interim trade agreement between India and the United States focuses on lowering tariff barriers while balancing domestic agricultural sensitivities. As part of the arrangement, the US has agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods — from levels as high as 50 per cent to 18 per cent — benefiting sectors such as textiles, leather, footwear and pharmaceuticals.

The government has maintained that between 90 and 95 per cent of Indian agricultural products remain outside the scope of the agreement, ensuring protection for farmers.

The political exchange reflects broader debate over the potential implications of the trade framework, particularly for the agriculture sector.