Bangladesh has cast fresh doubt over Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit to India, saying it is unlikely to proceed unless New Delhi moves forward with the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives wanted by Dhaka, according to a report from Madhyamam. The statement has added fresh uncertainty to a trip that had been under discussion between the two countries for weeks.
Why Dhaka Is Setting Conditions
Foreign Ministry spokesperson AKM Shahidul Karim said talks between the two countries over a bilateral visit by Rahman had been ongoing for several weeks, but the discussions were affected by Hasina’s public interaction in New Delhi on August 5.
He said Bangladesh feels a suitable environment needs to be created before the visit can happen, and Dhaka has asked Indian authorities to act quickly on its request to extradite Hasina and other fugitives.
Karim also said Dhaka wants India to hand over the men accused of killing student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, in line with the extradition treaty between the two nations. He added that Bangladesh is still waiting for a response from India on both requests.
The Hadi Murder Case
The Hadi case has become a specific flashpoint in the run-up to the visit. Two Bangladeshi nationals, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain, are believed to be the main accused in Hadi’s killing.
They were arrested by the West Bengal Special Task Force in March and are currently in NIA custody. Unlike Hasina’s case, observers say handing over the two accused may not be as difficult for India, since it does not carry the same political weight as extraditing a former head of government.
Hasina’s Extradition Remains the Bigger Hurdle
Hasina has been living in India since she was ousted from power in August 2024. Dhaka has repeatedly pressed India on her case, and the request gained new urgency after Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death in a case tied to the July-August 2025 unrest.
Following that verdict, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry called it India’s “obligatory responsibility” under the 2013 bilateral extradition treaty to hand her over. India, on its part, has said the matter is being examined, though analysts believe an actual handover remains unlikely. JNU professor Sanjay Bhardwaj noted that India views Bangladesh’s case against Hasina as politically driven, reflecting the wider hesitation in New Delhi.
A Visit Still Without a Confirmed Date
Despite the friction, groundwork for the trip has continued. Rahman met Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi in Dhaka last week, where Bangladesh urged India to expedite Hasina’s extradition.
Bangladeshi media reports have suggested a visit window between August 20 and 25, though officials on both sides have yet to confirm final dates.
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What This Means for Ties Between Dhaka and Delhi
The standoff shows how deeply the Hasina issue continues to shape relations between the two neighbours, even as both governments try to keep other areas of cooperation moving.
Whether the visit goes ahead as planned, or is pushed back further, will likely depend on how India responds to Dhaka’s twin demands in the coming days. Either way, the episode signals that ties between Bangladesh’s interim leadership and India remain fragile, with the fallout from Hasina’s ouster still shaping the diplomatic calendar more than a year later.
Summary: Dhaka has tied Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s expected visit to India to New Delhi acting on Sheikh Hasina’s extradition and handing over the men accused of killing student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, putting the trip in limbo.
Highlights
- August 5, 2026: Sheikh Hasina holds a public press interaction in New Delhi
- Last week: Tarique Rahman meets Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi in Dhaka
- Sunday: Bangladesh Foreign Ministry spokesperson AKM Shahidul Karim issues a statement on the visit conditions
- Reports suggest a proposed visit window between August 20 and 25, 2026
