Dhaka: Bangladesh has told India it expects a "conducive" or "appropriate environment" to be created before its Prime Minister Tarique Rahman travels to New Delhi for the BRICS summit, amid a diplomatic row over Dhaka's demand for the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and objections to a media event held in the Indian capital, Bangladeshi and Indian media reported.
Dhaka links visit to extradition issue
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry spokesperson Shahidul Karim was quoted by the Daily Star as saying the government had made its position clear and that "an appropriate environment needs to be created for this visit." According to the BDnews24 portal, by an "appropriate environment" Dhaka was referring to its request for the extradition of Hasina.
"We have made our position clear on this matter. We are of the view that an appropriate environment needs to be created for this visit,"
The comment followed a meeting between Rahman and India’s High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi, after which Rahman sought Hasina’s extradition to Bangladesh, local reports said. There was no immediate clarity from New Delhi about whether Rahman would attend the BRICS leaders' meeting scheduled for September 12-13 in New Delhi.
Strain over media interaction in New Delhi
The diplomatic friction traces in part to a media event on August 5 in New Delhi at which Sheikh Hasina, described by Bangladeshi authorities as an "absconding, convicted genocider," virtually addressed the press and spoke of returning to Bangladesh in December to "restore democracy," despite the risk of imprisonment or a death sentence, according to Bangladeshi reporting.
Bangladesh expressed outrage over the interaction, saying the event had offended public sentiments and could hinder bilateral efforts. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded on August 7, stating it had no role in the media event and did not endorse comments made at the forum about the Bangladesh government, according to media reports. Subsequently, on August 14 the MEA said it had extended an invitation to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the text of which was reported in Indian media.
Bangladesh frames BRICS invite and BIMSTEC chair role
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was reported to have clarified that the BRICS invitation was not addressed to the prime minister personally but to the chairperson of BIMSTEC, a regional group of seven countries of which Bangladesh currently holds the chair. Bangladesh’s comment underlines the diplomatic sensitivity over protocol and the format of invitations for multilateral meetings.
The sequence of statements and counter-statements highlights the diplomatic balancing act ahead of the BRICS gathering, where India is due to host leaders of partner countries.
- Key immediate issues: Dhaka’s extradition request for Sheikh Hasina; objection to Hasina’s media interaction in New Delhi.
- Process question: Whether the BRICS invitation is to the head of state/government of Bangladesh or to the BIMSTEC chairperson, as Dhaka emphasises.
- Diplomatic signals: MEA statements denying involvement in the media event while confirming an invitation to Bangladesh’s prime minister.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| BRICS Summit dates | 12-13 September (New Delhi) |
| BIMSTEC members | Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand |
All reporting on statements by Bangladeshi officials is drawn from the Daily Star and BDnews24. Indian government responses cited in media reports include MEA statements on August 7 and August 14 that denied any official role in the media interaction and confirmed outreach on summit invitations.
The unfolding exchanges are likely to test bilateral channels in the run-up to the summit. Any decision by Dhaka to condition travel on concrete progress on the extradition request or remedial gestures over the New Delhi event could complicate summit arrangements and bilateral engagements on development cooperation and regional initiatives where both countries participate.
At present, there is no independent confirmation in Indian official records released publicly that the extradition request has been acted upon, nor is there public confirmation that Rahman will or will not attend the BRICS leaders' meeting. Observers say resolution will depend on diplomatic talks between the two capitals in the coming weeks.
