No Rush For India Trip: Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman’s Visit Still Uncertain
Bangladesh has said there is “no rush” for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India and that Dhaka will prioritise its national interests while seeking a positive relationship with New Delhi.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiyun Kabir said Rahman’s visit would take place at an appropriate time after sufficient progress in bilateral discussions, the state-run BSS news agency reported.
The remarks came amid uncertainty over Rahman’s proposed India visit. India has invited the Bangladesh prime minister for a bilateral visit and to attend the outreach session of the BRICS summit scheduled for September 12 and 13.
The proposed visit is being closely watched as India and Bangladesh seek to rebuild bilateral ties, which deteriorated after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024.
“We want a positive relationship with India. Why wouldn’t we? They are our neighbours. We should have a working relationship,” Kabir said.
“But it has to be done by prioritising Bangladesh’s national interests,” he added, stressing that Dhaka would not compromise its interests while dealing with any country.
On the timing of Rahman’s possible visit, Kabir said there was no need to rush a head-of-government-level meeting.
“If we reach an agreement based on our national interests tomorrow, we can go [to India] next week, or the week after. There is no rush here,” he said, adding that the visit required adequate preparation and substantive discussions between the two sides.
India-Bangladesh ties have faced renewed strain over Hasina’s activities in India. On August 5, she held a virtual media interaction from New Delhi and said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December to help restore democracy.
Dhaka has sought Hasina’s extradition from India, while New Delhi has said the request is under examination in accordance with applicable legal procedures.
Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal in Bangladesh in November 2025 over alleged crimes against humanity during the crackdown on student-led protests that eventually led to her ouster.
Bangladesh criticised her August 5 media interaction, saying it hurt public sentiment and could adversely affect efforts to improve ties. India said it neither played a role in the event nor endorsed her comments.
Kabir said the extradition issue remains part of ongoing bilateral engagement, noting that India and Bangladesh have an extradition treaty.
His remarks came as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said relationships must meet the test of “mutual interest”, in an apparent reference to India’s engagement with Bangladesh and other neighbours.