As polls in Bangladesh resulted in a majority for Tarique Rahman-led BNP, a leading economist from Dhaka, Debapriya Bhattacharya, on Friday sought a reset for India-Bangladesh ties and warned that relations could not go forward till the time ousted PM Sheikh Hasina remains a ‘variable’ in bilateral ties.Bhattacharya, in a video interview with The Tribune, went on to add that the two sides needed to get the relationship “out of the clutches of the old hawks and liberate it”.On the results of election and ties with India post the victory of Rahman, son of former PM Khaleda Zia, Bhattacharya said: “I see this as a new opportunity to reboot…It cannot be an extension of the old…The congratulatory message from PM Narendra Modi has been taken very well.”“There is now a need to recreate a new narrative for the relationship and provide real substance, which is based on mutuality of interest and respect,” he added, highlighting how ties have been impacted by Hasina, who has been living in India since she was ousted, following public protests in August 2024.“A high guest from Bangladesh is being hosted by your country. If that particular guest remains a variable in the relationship, if the decoupling does not take place, it will be difficult to operationally take forward the new beginning,” Bhattacharya said.Asked about the calls from Bangladesh to deport Hasina, the economist said it was not necessarily the question of repatriation or sending Hasina back. “The megaphone diplomacy she pursues from the neighbouring country is essentially a distraction.”He asserted that India needed to introspect on how the relationship had progressed during Hasina’s tenure. “Overwhelmingly, Bangladeshis’ think relations did not serve the interest of Bangladesh. In some way, India became a part and parcel of our domestic politics or domestic security concerns,” he stated.The Bangladesh economist highlighted that Dhaka needed India for its future development as well as its coexistence in many ways. But at the same time, India should also appreciate that a stronger and stable Bangladesh was in its interest, he added.Responding to a question on Pakistan-Bangladesh-China alliance, and its implications for India, Bhattacharya said the world had become very market-oriented and transactional and ties with any country should not be seen as threat. “Bangladesh is sensitive to India’s concerns,” he said, while adding, “I think during Prof Mohd Yunus’ time, the relationship deteriorated significantly, it could have been improved, it could have been better”.As the way forward, he suggested that the private sector ion both countries needed to talk to each other, so that both sides could work out barriers of our trade expansion. Academics and media people should talk to each other too, he added.Bhattacharya said the two sides don’t do much trade, however, Indo-Bangladesh trade can support each other to trade with the rest of the world, including through foreign direct investment.