Bangladesh has said PM’s proposed visit to India will depend on the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, urging New Delhi to expedite the process.
Bangladesh has said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit to India will depend on the extradition of former premier Sheikh Hasina. The comments came as speculation grew over whether Rahman would travel to India later this month for his first official visit since becoming prime minister. Bangladesh’s foreign ministry said on Sunday that Dhaka had urged New Delhi to accelerate the process of extraditing Hasina and other fugitives.
His government has also signalled a “Bangladesh First” foreign policy focused on sovereignty and non-interference, while saying it wants mutually beneficial relations with India and other countries.
India has previously said Bangladesh’s request for Hasina’s extradition is “under examination. Karim said her recent media interactions had further complicated the atmosphere surrounding Rahman’s proposed visit. During a meeting between Rahman and Indian high commissioner Dinesh Trivedi, Bangladesh expressed hope that India would speed up the extradition process, according to the Bangladesh prime minister’s office.
Foreign ministry official A.K.M. Shahidul Karim played down reports that Rahman was certain to travel to India next week, saying that the necessary conditions for such a visit had yet to be established. Hasina has continued to make public statements from India, something Dhaka has objected to. The issue of Hasina’s extradition has already featured in recent diplomatic contacts.