New Delhi: Bangladesh on Wednesday said that “difficult or sensitive issues” with India should be addressed “forthright, in all sincerity and candour”, as both sides once again signalled willingness to move ahead positively after more than a year and a half of strained ties.Speaking at a Bangladesh House event marking 56 years of independence, with Minister of State for External Affairs Kirtivardhan Singh as chief guest and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in attendance, M. Riaz Hamidullah, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, framed the relationship as rooted in history but in need of frank engagement on present concerns.“In the closest proximity as ours, should there be difficult or sensitive issues, those can and ought to be addressed forthright, in all sincerity and candour, be it in trade, security or sharing natural resources,” he said.The remarks come amid a phase of recalibration in India-Bangladesh ties following the February elections that brought the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to power and Tariq Rahman to the prime minister’s post. Relations had turned sour after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India, during the student-led uprising in July 2024, and through the tenure of the interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus.Bangladesh foreign minister Khalilur Rahman is expected to be in New Delhi on April 8, in what will be the first visit by a member of the new government. The trip, however, is not being treated as an official bilateral visit as it will take place during a transit halt.Rahman is currently on a visit to United States as part of his campaign for the presidency of the UN General Assembly for the 2026-27 term, where he is contesting against a candidate from Cyprus.Hamidullah repeatedly underlined the depth of the relationship, recalling India’s role during the 1971 Liberation War and the sacrifices of Indian soldiers. He described the partnership as “unique and multidimensional”, shaped by shared culture, language and geography, while pointing to expanding economic linkages beyond formal trade figures.He also highlighted the recent political transition in Bangladesh, noting that 76 million voters participated in what he described as a peaceful electoral process, and said the new government led by Prime Minister Tariq Rahman was committed to a “pragmatic and mutually respectful and beneficial partnership” with India.Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla arriving in Dhaka. Photo: @hamidullah_riaz/X via PTI.Against an uncertain global backdrop, he said both countries should work together to uphold “open regionalism and multilateralism”, adding that cooperation must ultimately deliver for ordinary people on both sides of the border.In his address, Singh emphasised the historical foundations of the relationship, describing Bangladesh’s Independence Day as “a defining moment in our shared history” and recalling the “immense sacrifices” made during the 1971 war.He said the bonds forged during that period continue to underpin a partnership based on “trust, shared values and a common commitment to peace, stability and prosperity”.India, he said, remained focused on a “people-centric” approach, pointing to connectivity projects, trade facilitation and cross-border initiatives aimed at improving daily life and strengthening economic opportunities. The remark appears to be a pushback against the popular sentiment in Dhaka that India’s engagement benefited the Hasina government more than ordinary Bangladeshis.Singh also “welcomed” Bangladesh’s new government, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first leaders to engage with Rahman, signalling the importance India attaches to the relationship. He referred to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s presence at the swearing-in ceremony of Rahman as prime minister in Dhaka last month as a reflection of India’s democratic engagement.“We look forward to working closely with the new administration to further deepen our multifaceted partnership,” he said.