The Ministry of External Affairs has reaffirmed India's desire for constructive ties with Bangladesh, as questions swirl over a possible Jaishankar meeting with Dhaka's delegation at the UN General Assembly.

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• MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on September 22, 2026 that India desires a "positive, constructive and forward-looking" relationship with Bangladesh.
• Jaiswal said India is ready to discuss all bilateral issues with Dhaka within the existing structured mechanisms between the two countries.
• The remarks came at MEA's bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, partly in response to questions on Bangladesh's participation in a multinational air exercise.
• Bangladesh is among seven foreign nations set to take part in exercise "Tarang Shakti," hosted by the Indian Air Force at Jodhpur from September 26 to October 12.
• Jaiswal said he had no information on whether External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar would meet Bangladesh's delegation on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
• Jaishankar is currently heading India's delegation for the High-Level Week of the 81st UN General Assembly session.
• The briefing followed reports that Bangladesh's foreign secretary, Asad Alam Siam, is set to become the country's next high commissioner to New Delhi.
• On Ganga water-sharing, Jaiswal reiterated that a joint river mechanism exists to discuss disputes and that technical-level meetings between the two sides continue.
• The comments follow MEA's September 18 response to reports that Bangladesh's interim government is reviewing 101 agreements signed with India under the previous administration, with India saying it would protect its interests.
• India-Bangladesh relations saw a major downturn after an interim government took charge in Dhaka in 2024 following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.