Dhaka wants 'propitious environment' for PM Tarique's visit to India

Bangladesh today (16 August) urged India to expedite the extradition of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives and hand over the accused killer of Inqilab Mancha leader Osman Hadi under the bilateral extradition treaty.

AKM Shahidul Karim, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also said Bangladesh sought a "propitious environment" for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's bilateral visit to India.

He said officials of Bangladesh and India have been in touch with each other for several weeks on the possibility of a bilateral visit by Tarique to India.

However, the spokesperson said this process was vitiated by the open press interaction in New Delhi on 5 August by Sheikh Hasina, who has been convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal for committing crimes against humanity.

"We have made our position clear on this matter. We are awaiting their response," said the spokesperson.

Bangladesh reiterated that it will continue to pursue its "Bangladesh First" policy to promote friendly bilateral relations with other countries, including their neighbours, based on sovereign equality, national dignity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs and mutual benefit.

The development comes days after PM Tarique, during his meeting with Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi on 10 August, stressed the need to create a "conducive environment" to advance Bangladesh-India relations.

The meeting also discussed Hasina's extradition and the return of those accused in the murder of Hadi.

India, meanwhile, said on 11 August that it was reviewing Bangladesh's request for Hasina's extradition under its established legal procedures. Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the request was being examined, while describing the Hadi case as an ongoing legal matter.