India’s diplomacy in South Asia has often been accused of being overly personality-driven, tethered to familiar interlocutors and legacy relationships. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s short visit to Dhaka a few days ago suggests a conscious attempt to break from that pattern at a moment when Bangladesh’s political landscape is unsettled and emotionally charged. The immediate reason for the visit ~ the funeral of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia ~ was ceremonial.

But ceremonies in diplomacy are rarely just that. By meeting Tarique Rahman, the acting head of the BNP and Begum Zia’s son, Mr Jaishankar crossed a political threshold that New Delhi had avoided for years. Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina, India’s closest partner in Dhaka, such engagement was not inevitable. It was a choice. That choice reflects a recognition that Bangladesh has entered a transitional phase where political legitimacy, street sentiment, and institutional authority are in flux. India’s previous strategy ~ anchored firmly in........

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