External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s brief, four-hour visit to Dhaka for the funeral of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia was far more than a ceremonial call. It was a carefully calibrated diplomatic signal at a moment when India–Bangladesh relations are under visible strain. By choosing to engage, India made clear that it does not wish to abandon a neighbour that has long been central to its “Neighbourhood First” policy.

From a golden chapter to growing uncertainty

For much of the last decade, Bangladesh had been the most convincing success story of that policy. Stable governance under Sheikh Hasina, deep security cooperation, booming trade, and unprecedented connectivity produced what was widely described as a golden chapter in bilateral ties. Today, that chapter looks fragile. Since the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took charge after........

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