India–Bangladesh relations are going through a careful reset after the political upheaval of August 2024. Tensions persist—Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India, concerns over minorities in Bangladesh, and an uneasy equation with the new leadership—even as both sides look to stabilise ties.
In difficult diplomatic moments, formal channels often fall silent. But relationships do not always depend on official meetings; they live in quieter, more enduring spaces. Against this backdrop, Junjun Sharma Pathak of India’s World speaks with Bangladesh’s High Commissioner, H. E. Mr M. Riaz Hamidullah, exploring the evolving contours of the relationship—from engagement with the new government and shifting geopolitics to questions around China and the future of the Ganges Water Treaty.
In a candid conversation, Mr Hamidullah reflects on a year shaped by uncertainty and why he turned not to protocol, but to people, culture, and conversation. What emerges is a simple idea: the relationship is not lacking in connection—it is lacking in recognising what already exists. Alongside these reflections, he also recalls moments that stayed with him—paying tribute to Bhupen Hazarika, meeting Zubeen Garg, and visiting Sualkuchi in Assam.