2 weeks ago
Bangladesh Makes Hasina Extradition Red Line for Rahman's India Visit
Bangladesh and India are neighbors, and right now they are having a big disagreement.
A woman named Sheikh Hasina used to lead Bangladesh, but she is not in charge anymore.
A court in Bangladesh said she did very bad things and decided she must be punished.
Hasina is now staying in India, and Bangladesh wants India to send her back.
Bangladesh's new leader, Tarique Rahman, wants to visit India, but he says India must first promise to send Hasina back.
Recently, Hasina talked to reporters in India and said she hopes to go back to Bangladesh in December.
Bangladesh was very upset about this and complained to Indian leaders.
India says it did not organize that press talk and does not agree with what Hasina said.
The two countries are talking to try to fix their disagreement, but it is not clear yet whether the visit will happen.
Bangladesh said a 'propitious environment' must be created for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to India and asked India to 'expeditiously' act on its extradition request for Sheikh Hasina and other fugitive criminals.
Sheikh Hasina, sentenced to death by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity, held an August 5 press conference in New Delhi announcing plans to return to Bangladesh in December.
India maintains it had 'no role' in Hasina's press interaction and did not endorse her views, while Dhaka saw the event as having New Delhi's blessings.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman protested to NSA Ajit Doval, and advisor Humayun Kabir raised the issue with High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi, with Hasina's extradition described as a core issue.
Delhi proposed August 21 for the visit and R&AW chief Parag Jain visited Dhaka on August 9, but the current timeframe appears too tight for an actionable solution.
- Who
- Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and officials of the Bangladesh and Indian governments.
- What
- Bangladesh is demanding that India extradite Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives, setting it as a condition for a 'propitious environment' for PM Rahman's visit to India.
- Where
- New Delhi, India, and Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- When
- Discussions have been held since early June; Hasina's press conference was on August 5, the R&AW chief visited Dhaka on August 9, and August 21 was proposed for Rahman's visit.
- Why
- Bangladesh regards Hasina's extradition after her conviction for crimes against humanity as a core issue undermining the atmosphere for the visit and bilateral relations.
Bangladesh's Position
India's Position
Hasina's August 5 press conference
Bangladesh's Position
Dhaka says the open press interaction by a person convicted of crimes against humanity 'vitiated' the visit process and lodged protests, viewing it as having India's blessings.
India's Position
New Delhi says it had 'no role' in organising the interaction and did not endorse Hasina's statements.
Extradition of Sheikh Hasina
Bangladesh's Position
Hasina's extradition is a core issue and a 'red line'; India should 'expeditiously' act on the formal request.
India's Position
India believes it needs to convey 'next steps' and give a 'cogent response', and the current timeframe appears too tight for an actionable solution.
Timing of PM Rahman's visit
Bangladesh's Position
A 'propitious environment' must be created, and it will be difficult for Rahman to visit without a cogent response from India.
India's Position
Delhi had proposed August 21 as a possible date and the visit remains on the table, though both sides are working on a diplomatic solution.
Key facts
- Bangladesh PM
- Tarique Rahman (BNP government assumed office in February this year)
- Proposed visit date
- August 21
- Hasina's press conference
- August 5, at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia, New Delhi
- Hasina's legal status
- Convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity; sentenced to death
- Awami League status
- Banned in Bangladesh
- Extradition request
- First moved by the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus in 2024; reiterated by the BNP government
- Other demand
- Handover of the accused killers of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi under the bilateral extradition treaty
- R&AW chief's visit
- Parag Jain visited Bangladesh on August 9, meeting top intelligence and security officials
Quotes
Bangladesh Foreign Ministry
Official statement from Bangladesh’s foreign ministry
“We reiterate that we will continue to pursue our ‘Bangladesh First’ policy to promote friendly bilateral relations with other countries, including our neighbours, on the basis of sovereign equality, national dignity, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs and mutual benefit.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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