Bangladesh PM's India visit 'slim' without mutual trust, dignified invite: Adviser
The possibility of Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman travelling to India next month for the BRICS Summit remains “slim” unless an environment based on mutual trust is created and New Delhi extends a “dignified invitation”, his Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir has said.
In an interview with the state-run BSS news agency published on Thursday (August 20, 2026), Mr. Kobir said Dhaka is in no hurry to arrange a top-level visit without clearly defined national interests. “There is no justification for rushing into a top-level visit by going beyond the national interest,” he said. The interview was conducted on August 17.
The comments come amid fresh strains in bilateral ties over Dhaka’s demand for the extradition of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India following the political upheaval in Bangladesh in 2024. Mr. Rahman is scheduled to attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, but uncertainty surrounds his participation.
“The possibility of the Prime Minister visiting India ahead of the upcoming BRICS Summit remains slim unless an appropriate environment is created based on consensus between the two countries on specific issues and a dignified invitation,” Mr. Kobir said. However, he added that Bangladesh could take a positive view of participating in the summit if an “appropriate” bilateral environment is created based on mutual trust and consensus.
On Tuesday (August 18, 2026), Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed that the two leaders need to meet and that he wants Mr. Rahman’s proposed visit to India to be “memorable”. “Prime Minister Modi just mentioned one thing. We need to meet. And you can tell them on my behalf that you have the Prime Minister of India’s assurance that when the honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh visits India, he will have such an honourable reception as he deserves,” Mr. Trivedi said at a reception hosted by the Indian High Commission for leading Bangladeshi business leaders and a visiting delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry.
Mr. Kobir, who is also Joint Secretary General of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s International Affairs Committee, said the future course of Bangladesh-India relations and any visit by Mr. Rahman would depend on a change in the approach of the Indian leadership and its understanding of the political developments in Bangladesh. Referring to the youth-led protests in 2024 that led to the fall of the Hasina-led Awami League government, he said India needed to “properly understand the reality” of the events and the sacrifices made during the movement.
The adviser also expressed resentment over deposed Prime Minister Hasina being allowed to use Indian territory for political activities and media appearances. He said the issue has caused anger in Bangladesh and alleged that providing political or media space to individuals facing criminal cases or convictions “is contrary to India’s democratic etiquette”. The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi maintained that it had no role in the media event concerning Ms. Hasina and does not endorse anything said at the forum about the Bangladesh government.
The Bangladesh government has already lodged diplomatic protests with India over the matter and would continue to use diplomatic channels to prevent what it described as anti-Bangladesh activities from Indian territory, Mr. Kobir said. Ms. 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 protesters during the youth-led movement. Dhaka has since been seeking her extradition from India, while New Delhi maintains that the extradition request is under examination in accordance with applicable law and established legal procedures.
