Dhaka, Jan. 5 -- India appears to have begun a cautious push to mend ties with Bangladesh after the death of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, according to former ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad.

Speaking on bdnews24.com's discussion programme Inside Out, Faiz said relations between the two neighbours had fallen to "almost at the bottom", but New Delhi's recent outreach suggested an attempt to ease the diplomatic chill.

He argued that India's gestures were aimed less at the interim administration, which is close to ending its tenure, and more at the country's "future leadership" ahead of the February elections.

Faiz pointed to the visit to Dhaka by India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and a written condolence message from Prime...