International
oi-Swastika Sruti
Amid the confirmation of Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to India, the neighbouring country has said that an appropriate and conducive environment needs to be created for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to India, amid uncertainty over his participation in the upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi.
Bangladesh requires an “appropriate environment,” linked to extraditing Sheikh Hasina, for PM Tarique Rahman’s potential India visit and BRICS summit participation, despite India clarifying its non-involvement in Hasina’s recent New Delhi statements.
The development comes at a time when India-Bangladesh relations remain strained, particularly over Dhaka’s demand for the extradition of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India.
Bangladesh Links Rahman’s Visit To Hasina Extradition Issue
Bangladesh Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shahidul Karim told The Daily Star that Dhaka had already made its position clear regarding the proposed visit.
According to Bangladeshi media reports, Karim said that an appropriate environment should be created for Rahman’s visit. The reference was understood to include Bangladesh’s demand for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina.
Rahman had met Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi last week. During the meeting, the issue of Hasina’s extradition was reportedly raised.
However, there has been no final clarity on whether Rahman will travel to New Delhi.
India-Bangladesh Ties Under Strain
This problem arises at a time when there are increasing strains in relations between the two bordering nations.
The strain has been created due to the meeting between Sheikh Hasina with the press in New Delhi on August 5.
During the meeting, Hasina made it clear that despite all the odds, she is determined to go back to Bangladesh in December to bring the nation back onto the right path.
This statement created quite an adverse reaction from the Bangladeshi government.
Bangladesh termed Hasina’s statements as those which would create ill feelings among their citizens for improving relations with India.
The Bangladesh government has also called Hasina an “absconding, convicted genocider” and wanted her to be extradited.
India Says It Had No Role In Hasina’s Media Interaction
India’s Ministry of External Affairs had clarified on August 7 that it had no role in the media event involving Sheikh Hasina.
The MEA also said that India did not endorse statements made at the forum regarding the Bangladesh government.
The clarification came after Dhaka expressed strong objections to Hasina’s public remarks from Indian soil.
Confusion Over BRICS Invitation
There has also been some uncertainty regarding the nature of Bangladesh’s invitation to the BRICS summit.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman reportedly said that the invitation was not extended personally to Tarique Rahman but was addressed to the chairperson of BIMSTEC.
Bangladesh currently holds the chairmanship of BIMSTEC.
However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said on August 14 that an invitation had been extended to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister for a bilateral visit as well as for the outreach session of the BRICS Summit.
