Bangladesh links PM Tarique Rahman’s India visit to Sheikh Hasina’s extradition

Bangladesh has made it clear that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not visit India until New Delhi hands over former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina fled to India following the 2024 popular uprising, after which relations between the two countries have remained highly strained

After being convicted of crimes against humanity, Sheikh Hasina faces the death penalty in Bangladesh.

The Bangladeshi government has formally requested her extradition from India on several occasions.

According to a foreign news agency, speaking to journalists, Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry official A.K.M. Shahidul Karim dismissed media speculation about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman potentially visiting India next week.

He said, “We believe that a conducive environment needs to be created first for this visit.”

He added, “To achieve this objective, we have urged the Indian authorities to intensify their efforts to extradite Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives.”

India, meanwhile, maintains that Bangladesh’s extradition request is being examined under the applicable legal process and is currently under consideration.