The demand comes as ties remain strained after Hasina’s August 5 virtual press interaction in New Delhi, Bangladesh officials said on Sunday.
Bangladesh on Sunday said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed India visit needs a “propitious environment” as Dhaka again asks New Delhi to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and hand over people accused in the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi.
Bangladesh Foreign Ministry spokesperson AKM Shahidul Karim on Sunday said officials from Dhaka and New Delhi have been in contact for several weeks over a possible bilateral visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. “The interaction you refer to is being organised by a private media entity. The government has no involvement whatsoever in it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi initially invited Rahman during a telephone call following his election victory in February. New Delhi later renewed the invitation in connection with Bangladesh’s role as BIMSTEC chair and invited Rahman to the BRICS summit in Delhi in September.
Because of recent tensions linked to Sheikh Hasina’s appearance in New Delhi on August 5, however, Bangladesh said no final date has been agreed. India has said the August 5 event involving Hasina was organised by a private media organisation and had no government involvement.
Neither does it endorse any views that may be expressed at the forum,” Jaiswal said. “We reiterate that we will continue to pursue our ‘Bangladesh First’ policy to promote friendly bilateral relations with other countries, including our neighbours, based on sovereign equality, national dignity, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and mutual benefit”, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. During his meeting with Rahman, Trivedi conveyed Modi’s greetings and said India was committed to working with the Bangladeshi government and people positively and constructively.
