Dhaka seeks Hasina, Kamal extradition; India silent
Bangladesh has reiterated the extradition of key individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, in line with the extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India.
Although the Indian side did not explicitly mention extradition, both countries agreed that those arrested in connection with the killing of Shaheed Osman Hadi will be returned to Bangladesh in line with the procedures set out in the bilateral extradition treaty.
The requests were made during crucial diplomatic talks in New Delhi when Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, along with Prime Minister’s Adviser for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir and Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Oil and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday.
During the high-level talks, Rahman stated that the recently elected BNP government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would pursue its foreign policy in accordance with the principle of ‘Bangladesh First’ and on the basis of mutual trust and respect and reciprocal benefit.
According to Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh, a central point of the discussions was the extradition of those convicted by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal, particularly the killers of Shaheed Osman Hadi. Dr Rahman thanked Indian government for apprehending the suspected killers of Hadi.
In addition, Foreign Minister reiterated the Bangladeshi Government’s request for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who face death sentences in Bangladesh for their roles in alleged crimes against humanity during the country’s War of Liberation.
In the discussions, both sides emphasised the importance of advancing bilateral relations between the two countries in various dimensions. They also discussed key regional and international issues.
During the discussion, Jaishankar said Indian visas to Bangladeshis, particularly medical and business visas, would be eased in the coming weeks.
In the field of energy and trade, Dr Rahman thanked Minister Puri for India’s recent supply of diesel to Bangladesh and called for an increase in the volume of fuel and fertilizer supplies.
Minister Puri responded positively, indicating that the Indian Government would favourably consider Bangladesh’s request.
On the Indian side, in a press release, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar underscored India’s eagerness to engage constructively with the new Government of Bangladesh, highlighting the shared vision of enhancing bilateral relations across various sectors.
The two sides agreed to explore proposals for deepening the partnership through the relevant bilateral mechanisms.
Indian side also mentioned that follow-on official meetings are expected to take place at an early date.
The two sides also discussed other critical issues, including regional stability and ongoing international developments.
Dr Rahman’s delegation also met with India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, where both sides emphasized the importance of continued cooperation on security matters.
In a post-meeting statement, Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to working closely with Bangladesh, acknowledging the growing partnership between the two nations in various spheres.
“We agreed to remain in close touch and continue our discussions on ways to enhance our bilateral relationship,” he added.
Both India and Bangladesh expressed their commitment to strengthening ties and exploring new avenues for collaboration under the current elected BNP government.
