Bangladesh said on Sunday that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit to India is unlikely to proceed unless New Delhi moves forward with the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives wanted by Dhaka.
Bangladesh foreign ministry spokesperson AKM Shahidul Karim said officials from the two countries had been discussing the possibility of a bilateral visit by Rahman for several weeks. He said the discussions had been affected by a public interaction involving Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.
“We are of the view that a propitious environment needs to be created for the visit,” Karim said in a statement.
He said Bangladesh had asked India to expedite its request for the extradition of Hasina and other fugitives and to hand over two people accused of killing political activist Sharif Osman Hadi, in accordance with the bilateral extradition treaty.
The two accused in the Hadi murder case were arrested by the West Bengal Police’s Special Task Force in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas district, in March.
Bangladesh said Rahman’s possible visit had been “vitiated” by Hasina’s open press interaction in New Delhi, despite her conviction by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity.
The Indian government has said the press conference involving Hasina and Bangladeshi officials had no connection with the Indian government. India has also previously said Bangladesh’s extradition request concerning Hasina remains “under examination”.
Hasina was removed from power in August 2024 following a student-led uprising that developed into a wider anti-government movement. She fled to India after her government fell and has remained there since.