Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took workplace in February and has since visited Malaysia and China, departing from the custom of Bangladeshi leaders heading to India for his or her first abroad journey. File
| Picture Credit score: AP
Bangladesh mentioned on Sunday (August 16, 2026) that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman wouldn’t go to India till New Delhi extradited Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladeshi former premier who fled throughout a 2024 rebellion.
The international locations have had a strained relationship since lethal anti-government protests introduced down Ms. Hasina’s authorities and prompted her to flee to neighbouring India, the place she stays.
She faces the dying penalty in Bangladesh after being convicted of crimes towards humanity, and Dhaka has repeatedly requested her extradition.
Chatting with reporters on Sunday (August 16, 2026), International Ministry official A.Okay.M. Shahidul Karim performed down media hypothesis a few attainable journey by Mr. Rahman to India subsequent week.
“We’re of the view {that a} propitious atmosphere must be created for the go to,” he advised reporters. “To this finish, we have now urged the Indian authorities to expedite their efforts to extradite Sheikh Hasina and different fugitives.”
India has mentioned Bangladesh’s extradition request is “below examination”.
Mr. Rahman took workplace in February and has since visited Malaysia and China, departing from the custom of Bangladeshi leaders heading to India for his or her first abroad journey.
India’s Excessive Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, met Mr. Rahman final week, fuelling hypothesis over a attainable breakthrough.
Officers from Bangladesh and India have been involved in latest weeks about the potential of a go to by Mr. Rahman, Mr. Karim mentioned. “However the course of has been vitiated by Sheikh Hasina’s open media interactions, regardless of her being a convict in crimes towards humanity.”
Ms. Hasina, a former pro-democracy chief whom critics mentioned grew more and more autocratic throughout her 15-year rule, vowed this month that she would return to Bangladesh in December even when it meant imprisonment.
Mr. Karim additionally mentioned the federal government would pursue a “Bangladesh First” international coverage rooted in sovereignty and non-interference whereas searching for mutually useful ties with India and different international locations.
Revealed – August 16, 2026 03:55 pm IST
