Following reports in Indian media that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would be visiting New Delhi from August 23–25, Rahman’s press secretary stated on Friday that Bangladesh has not yet taken a decision regarding Rahman’s trip to India.
Rahman’s first visit to New Delhi since taking office in February has been the subject of weeks of negotiations between the South Asian neighbors as they attempt to mend the strained relations caused by the removal of Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheik Hasina in 2024.
After her lengthy reign was overthrown by student-led uprisings, Sheik Hasina was sent to India, where she has remained ever since. Dhaka has urged New Delhi to extradite her on several occasions. India has stated that it is looking into the request.
Rahman’s press secretary, A A M Saleh, told Reuters that “no decision has yet been made on the visit” and that Dhaka was awaiting India’s reaction about Hasina’s and “other fugitive criminals” extradition.
At a routine media conference, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed reporters that the Indian foreign ministry had nothing to say about the visit. Since taking office, Rahman’s six-month-old administration has worked to keep excellent relations with India.
However, last week, only days after Hasina spoke to media in a move denounced by Dhaka, it indicated that a more favorable diplomatic atmosphere was required for the trip.
Hasina was convicted to death in absentia in November for orchestrating a deadly crackdown on the student-led rebellion, forcing her to flee Bangladesh after violent protests against her administration.
She informed reporters that she would return to her home country in December and refuted the accusations, calling them politically motivated.
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