Bangladesh: No Rush on PM's India Visit, National Interest Takes Priority
Bangladesh has said there is no urgency for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India, stressing that Dhaka will not compromise its national interests in its dealings with New Delhi. The remarks were made by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Saturday, as reported by the state-run BSS news agency.
Kobir, who was appointed to his post on Friday, said Bangladesh wants a positive relationship with India. “Why wouldn't we? They are our neighbours. We should have a working relationship,” he said, while adding that this must be done by prioritising Bangladesh's national interests. "But it has to be done by prioritising Bangladesh's national interests," he said, making it clear that Dhaka would not compromise its interests in dealing with any country.
Asked about the timing of Rahman's possible visit to India, Kobir 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, noting that such a visit required adequate preparation, substantive discussions and necessary groundwork between the two sides.
India has invited Rahman for a bilateral visit as well as to attend the outreach session of the upcoming BRICS summit scheduled for September 12-13. The visit is considered important for rebuilding India-Bangladesh ties, which have witnessed a downturn since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government in August 2024. Dhaka and New Delhi have historically shared close economic and cultural ties, but the political transition in Bangladesh has introduced new complexities.
Hasina fled to India after her government was toppled, and Dhaka has since sought her extradition. New Delhi has said the request is under examination in accordance with applicable legal procedures. The extradition issue has remained a persistent point of friction in bilateral relations.
Tensions escalated further after Hasina held a virtual media interaction on August 5, in which she said she was determined to return to Bangladesh in December to restore democracy, notwithstanding the risk of imprisonment or a death sentence. Bangladesh expressed outrage over the event, saying it hurt the sentiments of its people and could adversely affect efforts to improve ties with India. India distanced itself from the event, stating it neither played a role nor endorsed her comments.
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.
Following the August 5 event, Dhaka reiterated its demand for Hasina's extradition and sought to link it with Rahman's planned trip to India. On Saturday, Kobir said that Bangladesh and India have an extradition treaty, and the issue of Hasina's extradition remains part of the ongoing engagement between the two countries.
His remarks came on the same day 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. Jaishankar's comments were seen as a subtle reminder that India expects reciprocity in its ties with Dhaka.
