Diplomatic Correspondent; Dbarta24 — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasized that a favorable conducive environment must be established before Prime Minister Tariq Rahman can undertake his proposed official state visit to India.
Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday afternoon, Foreign Ministry spokesperson A.K.M. Shahidul Karim disclosed that Dhaka has formally requested New Delhi to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other convicted fugitives under the existing bilateral extradition treaty, alongside handing over suspects in the murder case of Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.
Both nations have maintained active diplomatic communication over recent weeks regarding PM Tariq Rahman’s prospective visit following an invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While India proposed tentative dates in the third week of August for a two-day state visit, Bangladesh is considering alternative scheduling options around late August, with both governments actively reviewing dates between the third and fourth weeks of the month.
Diplomatic sensitivities, however, have come under strain following recent developments in New Delhi.
Official processes hit a hitch after Sheikh Hasina—convicted of crimes against humanity by the International Crimes Tribunal—held a public press conference in Delhi on August 5.
“We have made our position clear on this matter,” spokesperson A.K.M. Shahidul Karim stated during the briefing. “We believe it is necessary to create a favorable environment for this visit. To this end, we have requested the Indian authorities to quickly return Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives in accordance with our bilateral extradition treaty, and to hand over the killers of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi to Bangladesh. We are waiting for their response.”
Reaffirming the country’s diplomatic stance, the spokesperson emphasized that Dhaka will remain committed to expanding constructive, friendly relations with all neighboring nations based on mutual respect and national priorities under a ‘Bangladesh First’ foreign policy approach.
The realization of the upcoming bilateral summit now rests heavily on diplomatic responses from New Delhi, as Bangladesh awaits concrete assurances regarding extradition requests to ensure a constructive environment for high-level talks.