Dhaka | January 10, 2026

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma met Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday, a day after he was formally elected as the party chief ahead of the February 12 general elections. The meeting took place in Dhaka and was described as a courtesy call.

According to BNP media cell spokesperson Sayrul Kabir Khan, the interaction lasted around 40 minutes. The discussion comes at a politically significant time, as Bangladesh prepares for elections in a changed political landscape following the disbanding of the Awami League.

Tarique Rahman was officially elected BNP chairman late Friday night by the party’s standing committee, days after the demise of his mother, former Prime Minister and long-time BNP leader Khaleda Zia. Rahman had been serving as the party’s acting chairman since 2018 and recently returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in self-imposed exile in London.

BNP has emerged as a key political force ahead of the polls, with Jamaat-e-Islami positioned as its main rival. Earlier on Friday, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Imran Haider, also met Rahman, highlighting growing diplomatic engagement with the new BNP leadership as the country moves closer to elections.

Indian High Commissioner Meets New BNP Chief Tarique Rahman

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, paid a courtesy visit to newly elected BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday, a day after his formal elevation to the top party post ahead of the February 12 national elections.

BNP’s media cell said the meeting lasted about 40 minutes and took place amid major political changes in Bangladesh following the exit of the Awami League from the electoral process.

Tarique Rahman was officially chosen as BNP chairman on January 9, shortly after the death of his mother and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. He had been leading the party as acting chairman since 2018 and returned to Bangladesh last month after nearly 17 years in exile.

With BNP emerging as a frontrunner in the upcoming polls and Jamaat-e-Islami as its key rival, diplomatic engagements have increased. Pakistan’s High Commissioner Imran Haider also met Rahman earlier, signaling wider international attention on the evolving political scenario.