India, Aug. 5 -- Time flies. August 5 marks two years since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a student-led uprising, forcing the deposed Awami League leader into self-imposed exile in India. Since those tumultuous events, India-Bangladesh ties have suffered a severe setback, with both sides still struggling to rebuild a once-robust partnership. A lingering trust deficit now clouds relations as the two neighbours attempt to reset ties under Bangladesh's new Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman. Rahman, who assumed leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) following the death of his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, took office in February. His party, seen as anti-India, swept the polls.

While the sharp friction tha...