Bangladesh signals no urgency for PM Tarique Rahman's visit to India

Dhaka: Bangladesh has said there was "no rush" for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India and Dhaka would not compromise its national interests even though it wanted a positive relationship with New Delhi, according to a media report.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir made the remarks in Dhaka on Saturday, adding that Rahman's trip to India would take place at an appropriate time after sufficient progress in bilateral discussions, the state-run BSS news agency reported.

Kobir's remarks came amid continuing uncertainty over Rahman's visit to New Delhi. India has invited the Bangladesh Prime Minister for a bilateral visit as well as to attend the outreach session of the upcoming BRICS summit on September 12-13.

The much-anticipated visit is seen as important for rebuilding India-Bangladesh ties, which witnessed a downturn after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's government in August 2024.

Hasina fled to India after her government was toppled. Dhaka has since sought her extradition, while New Delhi said the request is under examination in accordance with applicable legal procedures.

"We want a positive relationship with India. Why wouldn't we? They are our neighbours. We should have a working relationship," said Kobir, an adviser to the Bangladesh PM who was appointed as state minister on Friday.

"But it has to be done by prioritising Bangladesh's national interests," he said, adding that Dhaka would not compromise its interests in dealing with any country.

Asked about the timing of Rahman's possible India visit, Kobir was quoted as saying by the BSS that 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," said the state minister, adding that such a visit required adequate preparation, substantive discussions and necessary groundwork between the two sides.

India-Bangladesh relations came under fresh strain after Hasina held a virtual media interaction in New Delhi on August 5, in which she said she is determined to return home in December to put the country on the "right track" by restoring democracy, notwithstanding the risk of facing the threat of imprisonment or a death sentence.

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 people who were part of student-led protests eventually leading to her ouster.

Bangladesh expressed outrage over the media interaction, saying the event had hurt the sentiments of its people and could adversely affect efforts to improve bilateral ties with India.

India, meanwhile, sought to distance itself from the event, saying New Delhi neither played a role in it nor endorsed Hasina's comments.

Following the August 5 event, Dhaka reiterated its demand for her extradition and even sought to link it with Rahman's planned trip to India.

Kobir on Saturday said Dhaka and New Delhi have an extradition treaty, and the issue of Hasina's extradition remained part of the ongoing engagement between the two countries.

His remarks came on the same day when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that for any relationship to work, it must meet the test of "mutual interest", in an apparent reference to India's engagement with Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries.