Bangladesh has linked Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit to India with its demand that New Delhi expedite the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after her government was toppled by a student-led uprising in August 2024.
Bangladesh Foreign Ministry spokesperson A.K.M. Shahidul Karim said on Sunday, August 16, that a “propitious” or “conducive” environment must first be created for Rahman’s India visit, while discussions between Dhaka and New Delhi have continued for several weeks.
Dhaka is awaiting India’s response to its extradition request and has also sought the return of other fugitives, including suspects wanted in connection with the killing of political activist Sharif Osman Hadi.
The development comes days after Rahman met Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi and called for a “conducive environment” to reset bilateral ties. India, meanwhile, has said Hasina’s extradition request is “under examination” and will be considered under relevant legal and judicial processes.
A Visit Held In Balance
Rahman’s proposed India trip would be his first official visit since becoming Bangladesh’s Prime Minister in February 2026 after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s landslide election victory. India has invited him to the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, while separate discussions have been taking place over a possible bilateral visit later this month.
However, Dhaka has now made clear that relations with New Delhi cannot be separated from the unresolved Hasina issue. Karim said Bangladesh had already conveyed its position to India and was waiting for action on the extradition request.
Rahman had also raised the matter directly with High Commissioner Trivedi during their August 10 meeting. The timing is significant because both governments had recently signalled a desire for a “fresh start” after nearly two years of strained relations. Indian officials have indicated their willingness to engage with the new Bangladeshi government, but New Delhi has not committed to handing Hasina over.
Hasina Remains The Flashpoint
Sheikh Hasina has remained in India since August 2024, when deadly anti-government protests forced her to leave Bangladesh. She was subsequently convicted in absentia and sentenced to death in November 2025 over her alleged role in the crackdown on protesters, charges she has rejected as politically motivated.
The United Nations has estimated that up to 1,400 people may have been killed during the violence surrounding the uprising. Hasina has continued to defend her record and, in July, said she intended to return to Bangladesh in December and surrender to the courts.
Tensions rose further after she addressed a media interaction in New Delhi on August 5, calling for the ban on her Awami League party to be lifted and reiterating her intention to return. Bangladesh condemned the event and said allowing political activity by Hasina from Indian soil could damage bilateral relations. India responded that the event was organised by a private media organisation and that the government had no role in it or in the views expressed.
India has also maintained that the extradition issue is a legal matter rather than one that can be resolved through political pressure. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on July 17: “We have received a request for extradition.
This request … is under examination,” adding that it would be considered in accordance with the relevant legalities and judicial processes. India and Bangladesh have an extradition treaty that provides the legal framework for such requests, although its provisions allow authorities to examine whether a case falls within grounds for refusal.
Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam has meanwhile urged India to demonstrate political and diplomatic goodwill over Hasina’s return. Dhaka’s latest position therefore places New Delhi in a difficult position: it is being asked to deepen engagement with a new government while simultaneously facing pressure over the former leader whose relationship with India was central to the previous era of bilateral ties.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The latest development shows how difficult it is to rebuild relations between two neighbouring countries when unresolved political grievances remain at the centre of diplomacy. Bangladesh has legitimate reasons to seek accountability for alleged abuses during the 2024 crackdown, while India has the responsibility to assess any extradition request through law and due process rather than political expediency.
At the same time, turning a high-level diplomatic visit into a bargaining point risks making dialogue between the two countries even harder. India and Bangladesh share deep social, economic, cultural and geographical ties, and ordinary citizens on both sides stand to lose when political tensions overshadow cooperation. A sustainable reset will require transparency, respect for legal processes and continued communication rather than escalating demands or rhetoric.
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