External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has made it clear that India’s ties with Bangladesh must work for both sides, stressing that diplomatic relationships depend on mutual respect rather than one-sided demands. His comments came amid reports that Dhaka is linking a planned visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to its demand for the extradition of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina.
Jaishankar made the remarks on Saturday while speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi initially invited Rahman during a telephone call following his election victory. New Delhi later renewed the invitation in connection with Bangladesh’s role as BIMSTEC chair and invited him to the BRICS summit in Delhi in September. The proposed visit has assumed importance as both sides seek to rebuild relations after years of growing tensions. The demands include the handover of suspects involved in the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi and the extradition of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina under the bilateral extradition treaty. “What I can tell you is for any relationship to work, it has to meet the test of mutual interest. “I am also realistic, I’m not expecting neighbours to do only what’s in my interest. There has to be a fair degree, a reasonable degree of my recognising and respecting what is their interest, just as I expect them also to do so.
Responding to a question about the Bangladesh government’s demand that India extradite Hasina, who has remained in India since leaving Bangladesh in 2024, he said: India and Bangladesh have been considering possible dates for Rahman’s first official visit to New Delhi since he became prime minister in February. Hasina’s presence in India has been a major source of tension between New Delhi and Dhaka since her government fell following mass protests in 2024.
Stating that a “favourable environment” must be created for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s potential visit to India, Bangladesh has urged New Delhi to execute its pending extradition requests. Bangladesh has repeatedly sought her extradition, while India has said that the request is under examination. Earlier reporting noted: ‘Not expecting neighbours to do only what’s in my interest’: Jaishankar on Bangladesh amid Hasina row The India-Bangladesh relationship can work if it meets the “test of mutual interest”, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday against the backdrop of Dhaka linking Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to New Delhi to the extradition of former premier Sheikh Hasina . It has to work for them, it has to work for us,” he said.
Earlier reporting noted: Jaishankar responded to a question on the Tarique Rahman government’s demand for extraditing Hasina by declining to go into the discussions between India and Bangladesh on this issue. Earlier reporting noted: Also Read I Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to be next Bangladesh President: Good or bad news for India, Sheikh Hasina?
