Correspondent

Dhaka is emphasising the need to create a conducive environment ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to New Delhi. Although the date of the visit has yet to be finalised, officials from the two countries have been in discussions for several weeks.

Diplomatic sources say the timing of the visit will depend largely on Dhaka’s demands and the next steps taken by New Delhi.

Bangladesh is currently seeking swift progress on two issues: expediting the extradition process of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and handing over suspects in the murder case of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson for Inquilab Mancha.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson A.K.M. Shahidul Karim said on Sunday that officials from Bangladesh and India had been communicating for several weeks regarding the prime minister’s possible visit to India.

He said Sheikh Hasina’s public remarks in New Delhi on August 5 had affected the environment required for the visit.

“The visit requires a conducive environment,” the spokesperson said, adding that Bangladesh had requested India to expedite the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives under the bilateral extradition treaty and to hand over the accused in the Hadi murder case.

Dhaka is now waiting for New Delhi’s response.

Diplomatic analysts say Bangladesh’s position indicates that Dhaka does not view Tarique Rahman’s visit as merely a formal diplomatic engagement. Rather, it wants visible progress on several sensitive bilateral issues before the visit.

Strained bilateral ties

Relations between Dhaka and New Delhi changed significantly following the July-August 2024 mass uprising and the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5.

Tensions increased over Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India, border issues and various political matters. At one point, India’s visa services for Bangladeshis were also significantly restricted.

After Tarique Rahman’s government took office, efforts were made to restore communication and normalise relations between the two countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Tarique Rahman to visit New Delhi.

However, India was not the destination of the prime minister’s first foreign trip. He visited Malaysia in June and later travelled to China.

According to diplomatic sources, labour markets and migration were key issues during the Malaysia visit, while investment, infrastructure and economic cooperation were central to the China trip. Therefore, those visits should not be viewed as direct moves against India, they said.

Later, Tarique Rahman was invited to attend the outreach session of the BRICS summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi in September as chair of BIMSTEC. He was also invited for a separate bilateral visit, creating two possible avenues for his trip to India.

Differences over Sheikh Hasina’s extradition

India has yet to announce a direct decision on Bangladesh’s request for Sheikh Hasina’s extradition.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has said the matter is being examined through established procedures.

While Bangladesh is seeking swift political and diplomatic progress, India has maintained that the issue should be handled through the legal process.

The 2013 India-Bangladesh extradition treaty contains provisions for returning convicted or accused persons. It also includes certain exceptions for offences considered political in nature.

Dhaka is also actively pursuing the return of suspects in the Hadi murder case. According to information from Bangladesh’s Home Ministry, necessary documents have been sent to India seeking the return of three suspects, including the case’s principal accused, Faisal Karim Masud.

Other issues on the agenda

Diplomatic sources say that although the Sheikh Hasina issue remains important, the entire bilateral agenda is not confined to it.

Trade, investment, energy, border management, visas, connectivity, regional security and the sharing of waters of common rivers are also expected to feature in discussions.

The renewal of the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty is particularly significant, as the agreement is scheduled to expire in December this year.

At the same time, obtaining additional diesel from India is important for Bangladesh amid the country’s current energy crisis.

Overall, while both sides are discussing ways to normalise relations, each is seeking to maintain its own position.

Dhaka wants visible progress on several issues before the visit, while India appears interested in managing sensitive matters through dialogue and advancing broader bilateral ties.

Diplomats say Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to New Delhi is therefore more than a routine foreign trip—it could serve as an important test of the basis on which the new government’s relations with India will move forward.