Bangladesh: Prime Minister will not visit India unless Sheikh Hasina is handed over

Bangladesh announced on Sunday that its Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, will not visit New Delhi unless India hands over former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India during the 2024 uprising.

Relations between the two countries have been strained since the anti-government protests that ousted Hasina and forced her to seek refuge in neighboring India, where she remains.

Hasina faces the death penalty in Bangladesh after being convicted of crimes against humanity, while Dhaka has repeatedly submitted requests for her extradition.

In remarks to journalists on Sunday, AKM Shamsuddin Shahid Karim, an official in the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, downplayed the significance of media speculation about a potential visit by Rahman to India next week, stating, “We believe it is essential to create a conducive environment for such a visit.”

Rahman assumed office in February last year. Since then, he has visited Malaysia and China, breaking with the tradition followed by previous Bangladeshi leaders who typically chose India as their first foreign destination.

The Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, met with Rahman last week, sparking speculation about a possible thaw in bilateral relations.

Karim noted that officials from both countries had recently communicated regarding the possibility of Rahman’s visit to India. However, he said these efforts “have been disrupted by the public media appearance of Sheikh Hasina, despite her conviction for crimes against humanity.”

Hasina had pledged in December to return to Bangladesh even if it meant imprisonment.

Karim affirmed that the government would adopt a foreign policy based on the principle of “Bangladesh First,” grounded in sovereignty and non-interference, while seeking to establish balanced and beneficial relations with India and other countries.