Bangladesh urges India to foster conducive environment for bilateral ties amid extradition requests
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Bangladesh has urged India to foster a more conducive environment to advance bilateral relations, as the two nations navigate recent diplomatic tensions. The call was conveyed during a courtesy meeting between Prime Minister Tareq Rahman and Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday morning.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman briefed reporters on the discussions, emphasizing that the creation of an enabling environment remains a priority for strengthening ties between the two neighbors. During the meeting, the Bangladesh government formally requested that New Delhi expedite the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who remains in India following her conviction for crimes against humanity.
Furthermore, Dhaka has requested the extradition of those suspected of murdering Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, the convener of Inqilab Mancha. According to the Foreign Minister, Bangladesh has already provided Indian authorities with all documentation required to facilitate the return of the suspects currently held in India. He noted that the matter is highly sensitive and expressed an urgent need for the handover of the accused.
The discussions also touched upon border killings and the issue of illegal push-ins, though the Foreign Minister characterized these as brief discussions rather than substantive policy debates reserved for the heads of government.
A significant portion of the diplomatic dialogue addressed the events of August 5, when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a press conference in New Delhi. The Foreign Minister stated that Bangladesh had clearly communicated its dissatisfaction regarding the incident to the Indian government. He asserted that by allowing a convicted individual to propagate sentiments against the Bangladeshi judiciary, the Indian authorities had undermined a key pillar of the Bangladeshi state.
Rahman expressed a measure of optimism regarding future bilateral conduct, stating he was assured that such an incident would not be repeated. He added that the Indian authorities appeared to understand the gravity of the situation and the necessity of respecting the institutional integrity of the Bangladeshi state.
Regarding potential high-level visits, the Foreign Minister clarified that the Indian government has extended invitations to the Prime Minister, including one from Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly after the new government took office. He noted that while invitations exist, including one related to BIMSTEC, no formal decision has been reached by the Bangladeshi government regarding a visit to New Delhi at this time.
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