Bangladesh PM Won't Visit India Until Hasina Extradited
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- Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry said on Aug 16 that PM Tarique Rahman would not visit India until New Delhi extradited Sheikh Hasina, with official A.K.M. Shahidul Karim telling reporters a "propitious environment needs to be created" first.
- Sheikh Hasina fled to India during a 2024 uprising that toppled her government; she faces the death penalty in Bangladesh after being convicted of crimes against humanity, and Dhaka has repeatedly requested her extradition.
- India has said the extradition request is "under examination," though India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, met Rahman last week, fueling speculation about a possible breakthrough.
- Rahman, who took office in February, has visited Malaysia and China — departing from the tradition of Bangladeshi leaders making India their first overseas trip.
- Bangladesh also blamed Hasina's "open media interactions" for having "vitiated" the visit process and announced a "Bangladesh-first" foreign policy rooted in sovereignty and non-interference while seeking mutually beneficial ties with India.
- Hasina vowed in December to return to Bangladesh even if it meant imprisonment, though she remains in India where she has been making public media appearances.
Why it matters: Rahman's deliberate choice to visit Malaysia and China before India — and now conditioning any trip on Hasina's extradition — marks a sharp departure from diplomatic precedent and signals that bilateral ties hinge on a New Delhi decision it has yet to publicly advance beyond "under examination."
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