Dhaka says talks remain ongoing after diplomatic tensions surrounding former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent public appearance in India….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Bangladesh and India have been in contact for several weeks over a possible bilateral visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to New Delhi, Bangladesh Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shahidul Karim said on Sunday.
The proposed visit would be Rahman’s first trip to India since assuming office in February, but discussions remain ongoing and no dates have been finalised, Dhaka said.
Karim said the process had been affected by a recent press interaction involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5. Hasina, who is currently in India, was convicted by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity, according to Dhaka.
“Officials of Bangladesh and India have been in touch with each other for several weeks on the possibility of a bilateral visit by Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman to India. However, this process was vitiated by the open press interaction in New Delhi on the 5th of August by Sheikh Hasina, who has been convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal for committing crimes against humanity. We have made our position clear on this matter”, Karim told reporters.
Bangladesh has also urged India to act on pending extradition requests involving Hasina. Dhaka has sought her extradition following her conviction, while also asking India to hand over individuals accused in the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi under the bilateral extradition treaty between the two countries.
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said discussions on Rahman’s potential visit were affected by Hasina’s virtual interaction organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia. The event was held on the second anniversary of her ouster in 2024.
India, however, has distanced itself from the event, saying it was organised by a private media organisation and had no government involvement.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi did not endorse any views expressed at the forum.
“The interaction you refer to is being organised by a private media entity. The government has no involvement whatsoever in it. Neither does it endorse any views that may be expressed at the forum,” Jaiswal said.
Against this backdrop, Dhaka has reiterated the principles it says will guide its relations with India and other neighbouring countries.
“We reiterate that we will continue to pursue our ‘Bangladesh First’ policy to promote friendly bilateral relations with other countries, including our neighbours, based on sovereign equality, national dignity, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and mutual benefit”, Karim said.
The latest developments come amid continued diplomatic engagement between the two countries. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi recently held consultations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, after meeting Rahman in Dhaka.
During his meeting with Rahman, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Modi and expressed India’s willingness to work with the Bangladeshi government and people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.
The two sides also discussed matters of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen bilateral relations with a people-centric approach, according to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh.
The potential visit by Rahman could provide an opportunity for both sides to address areas of disagreement and discuss broader bilateral cooperation. However, Dhaka’s concerns over Hasina’s presence and activities in India remain a factor in the ongoing diplomatic discussions.
For now, Bangladesh has indicated that talks over the proposed visit are continuing, but a final date has yet to be agreed.
