Bangladesh Prime Minister's India Visit Stalls Over Hasina Extradition

Diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh have stalled a proposed visit by Tarique Rahman to New Delhi. While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed a desire for the meeting to be memorable, the Bangladeshi government has conditioned any top-level visit on the extradition of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina, who fled to India in 2024, was sentenced to death in absentia in November 2025 for crimes against humanity.

Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir stated that the chances of a visit for the September 12-13 BRICS Summit remain slim unless a propitious environment of mutual trust is established. Dhaka has lodged diplomatic protests over Hasina's continued political and media activities on Indian soil, specifically a virtual press event on August 5. In response, the Ministry of External Affairs of India maintained that extradition requests are being examined through established legal processes and denied involvement in Hasina's media appearances.

Confusion peaked on August 21 when the President's Secretariat of India withdrew a press release that had announced the cancellation of a Change of Guard Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan to make room for Rahman's welcome rehearsal. Although reports suggested a potential visit from August 23 to 25, Rahman's Press Secretary A A M Saleh clarified that no final decision has been made, as Dhaka awaits India's response regarding the extradition of Hasina and other fugitives.