Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. File
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Bangladesh has stated there was “no rush” for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to go to India and Dhaka wouldn’t compromise its nationwide pursuits regardless that it wished a optimistic relationship with New Delhi, in accordance with a media report.
State Minister for International Affairs Humaiun Kobir made the remarks in Dhaka on Saturday (August 23, 2026), including that Rahman’s journey to India would happen at an acceptable time after ample progress in bilateral discussions, the state-run BSS information company reported.
Mr. Kobir’s remarks got here amid persevering with uncertainty over PM Rahman’s go to to New Delhi. India has invited the Bangladesh Prime Minister for a bilateral go to in addition to to attend the outreach session of the upcoming BRICS summit on September 12-13.
The much-anticipated go to is seen as necessary for rebuilding India-Bangladesh ties, which witnessed a downturn after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s authorities in August 2024.
Ms. Hasina fled to India after her authorities was toppled. Dhaka has since sought her extradition, whereas New Delhi stated the request is beneath examination in accordance with relevant authorized procedures.
“We would like a optimistic relationship with India. Why would not we? They’re our neighbours. We should always have a working relationship,” stated Mr. Kobir, an adviser to the Bangladesh PM who was appointed as State minister on Friday (August 21, 2026).
“Nevertheless it must be achieved by prioritising Bangladesh’s nationwide pursuits,” he stated, including that Dhaka wouldn’t compromise its pursuits in coping with any nation.
Requested in regards to the timing of Mr. Rahman’s attainable India go to, Mr. Kobir was quoted as saying by the BSS that there was no must rush a head-of-government-level assembly.
“If we attain an settlement based mostly on our nationwide pursuits tomorrow, we will go [to India] subsequent week, or the week after. There is no such thing as a rush right here,” stated the State minister, including that such a go to required enough preparation, substantive discussions and crucial groundwork between the 2 sides.
India-Bangladesh relations got here beneath contemporary pressure after Ms. Hasina held a digital media interplay in New Delhi on August 5, through which she stated she is set to return residence in December to place the nation on the “proper observe” by restoring democracy, however the chance of going through the specter of imprisonment or a demise sentence.
Ms. Hasina was sentenced to demise in absentia by a particular tribunal in Bangladesh in November 2025 over alleged “crimes towards humanity” through the crackdown on individuals who had been a part of student-led protests ultimately resulting in her ouster.
Bangladesh expressed outrage over the media interplay, saying the occasion had damage the emotions of its folks and will adversely have an effect on efforts to enhance bilateral ties with India.
India, in the meantime, sought to distance itself from the occasion, saying New Delhi neither performed a job in it nor endorsed Ms. Hasina’s feedback.
Following the August 5 occasion, Dhaka reiterated its demand for her extradition and even sought to hyperlink it with Mr. Rahman’s deliberate journey to India.
Mr. Kobir on Saturday (August 22, 2026) stated Dhaka and New Delhi have an extradition treaty, and the difficulty of Ms. Hasina’s extradition remained a part of the continued engagement between the 2 nations.
His remarks got here on the identical day when Exterior Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that for any relationship to work, it should meet the check of “mutual curiosity”, in an obvious reference to India’s engagement with Bangladesh and different neighbouring nations.
Printed – August 23, 2026 01:14 pm IST
