PM’s India trip caught in Hasina row

Bangladesh-India ties face a fresh diplomatic test as the proposed bilateral visit of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India has effectively stalled, with Dhaka saying former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s public interaction with the media in New Delhi has undermined the political environment needed for the trip.

Dhaka has stopped short of cancelling the visit, however, leaving the door open for further engagement while making clear that it expects concrete action from New Delhi on several issues, particularly Hasina’s extradition and the handover of the alleged killers of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson and Additional Secretary AKM Shahidul Karim said on Sunday that officials from Bangladesh and India had been in contact for several weeks over the possibility of a bilateral visit by Tarique Rahman.

“Officials of Bangladesh and India have been in touch with each other for several weeks on the possibility of a bilateral visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India,” he said.

But he said the process had been “vitiated” by Hasina’s open press interaction in New Delhi on August 5.

“However, this process was vitiated by the open press interaction in New Delhi on 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,” Shahidul Karim said.

Dhaka now believes a more favourable political environment must be established before the prime minister travels to India.

“We are of the view that a propitious environment needs to be created for this visit,” the spokesperson said.

He said Bangladesh had asked India to take urgent steps on issues it considers central to its national interests.

“To this end, we have requested the Indian authorities to expeditiously act on our request to extradite Sheikh Hasina and other fugitive criminals,” he said.

Dhaka has also asked New Delhi to hand over the accused killers of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi under the bilateral extradition treaty.

“And to hand over to Bangladesh the accused killers of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi in compliance with our bilateral extradition treaty. We are awaiting their response,” Shahidul Karim said.

The Foreign Ministry’s position does not amount to a formal cancellation or indefinite postponement of Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit.

Instead, Dhaka has linked progress on the trip to the creation of what it describes as a “propitious environment” and is awaiting India’s response to its requests.

The approach leaves room for diplomatic engagement while signalling that Bangladesh expects movement from New Delhi before the proposed high-level contact can regain momentum.

The issue of Hasina’s presence in India has remained one of the most sensitive points in Bangladesh-India relations since the change of government in August 2024.

Dhaka has repeatedly sought her extradition following her conviction by the International Crimes Tribunal, while India has received the request amid its own legal and political considerations.

Her public appearance and interaction with journalists in New Delhi on August 5 has now directly complicated the proposed engagement between the two governments, according to Dhaka.

By describing the development as having “vitiated” the visit process, Bangladesh has signalled that it regards political activity by Hasina from Indian territory as incompatible with the environment required for renewed high-level engagement.

Dhaka’s reference to the bilateral extradition treaty is also significant.

By asking India to act in “compliance” with the treaty, Bangladesh is framing the issue not simply as a political demand but as a matter involving an existing bilateral legal mechanism.

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry sought to underline that Bangladesh does not intend to abandon constructive relations with India or other neighbours.

“We reiterate that we will continue to pursue our ‘Bangladesh First’ policy to promote friendly bilateral relations with other countries, including our neighbours, on the basis of sovereign equality, national dignity, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and mutual benefit,” Shahidul Karim said.

Dhaka’s latest position therefore reflects conditional engagement rather than a diplomatic rupture.

Bangladesh is keeping the possibility of Tarique Rahman’s India visit alive while making clear that progress will depend partly on how New Delhi responds to its outstanding demands.

The message from Dhaka is that stronger bilateral ties remain possible, but high-level political engagement must be built on what Bangladesh describes as sovereign equality, national dignity, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs and mutual benefit.