Bangladesh asks India to send back former PM Hasina:Tarique Rahman’s Delhi visit postponed; Dhaka seeks conducive atmosphere for talks

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to India has been postponed for now. Dhaka’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that India must first return former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh. Preparations for Rahman’s visit will resume only after this issue is addressed. Tarique Rahman was scheduled to visit New Delhi on August 21. Preparatory talks between the two countries had been under way for several weeks. However, Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry spokesman AK Shahidul Karim said the current circumstances were not conducive to the visit. Atmosphere worsened after Hasina’s press conference Bangladesh Foreign Ministry spokesperson Karim specifically referred to Sheikh Hasina’s press conference in New Delhi on August 5. He said her political statements from Indian soil had affected the atmosphere that had been created for Tarique’s visit. Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has convicted Hasina in cases related to crimes against humanity. Karim said Bangladesh had already made its position clear on the issue. Dhaka wants the two countries to reach a proper understanding before Tarique’s visit. Dhaka put 2 demands before India Bangladesh has made two main demands to India. Rahman’s India visit faces opposition from Bangladesh parties Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit to India has also triggered political opposition in Bangladesh. Leaders of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have raised concerns over former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s political activities in India. Meanwhile, the National Citizens Party (NCP), which emerged from the 2024 mass movement, has also opposed Rahman’s visit to India. NCP leader Nahid Islam said Rahman should not travel to India until a decision is reached on Hasina’s extradition and a new framework for India-Bangladesh relations is established. Nahid also alleged that Hasina’s press conference in New Delhi was held with the direct or indirect support of the Indian government. He argued that her remarks from Delhi could not be viewed simply as her personal opinion, but should also be seen as an indication of India’s position. India had invited Tarique Rahman to Delhi India has already invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit New Delhi. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla extended the invitation on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Dhaka for Rahman’s swearing-in ceremony. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman recently said that, as the current chair of BIMSTEC, Tarique Rahman has also been invited to attend the BRICS summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi in September. Earlier, reports suggested that India and Bangladesh were discussing a two-day visit by Rahman to Delhi in the third week of August. However, the dates had not been finalised at the time. Hope for visit increased after meeting with High Commissioner Amid the tensions, India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on August 10. It was their first formal meeting after Trivedi took charge in Dhaka. According to the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Press Wing, the two discussed several important bilateral issues. Dhaka also expressed hope that the extradition process for Sheikh Hasina would be completed soon. After the meeting, Trivedi described the talks as “very good”. He said both countries were looking ahead and had a positive outlook on their bilateral relationship. He also said that while the two countries may have differences, maintaining good relations in the interests of their people should remain a priority. Just a few hours later, Trivedi travelled to New Delhi and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This raised hopes that Tarique’s Delhi visit would go ahead. However, within a few days, Dhaka’s position appears to have hardened again. ​