Bangladesh has urged India to expedite the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister who has been sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity. The request was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi on Monday.
The meeting focused on creating an environment conducive to taking Bangladesh-India relations forward, according to Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman. He told reporters that the extradition of Sheikh Hasina was discussed, and Bangladesh asked India to move in a positive direction on this matter.
Khalilur Rahman also requested India to hand over the suspected killers of Osman Hadi, the convener of Inquilab Mancha, who were reportedly arrested in India. The foreign minister said that Bangladesh has provided India with all the necessary documents and hopes for a positive response.
The meeting was Dinesh Trivedi’s first with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman since he began his assignment as India’s high commissioner in Dhaka. Khalilur Rahman said that issues such as border killings and the alleged push-in of Bangladeshi nationals by India were raised briefly, but were not discussed in detail.
Khalilur Rahman said that India had taken Bangladesh’s position on Sheikh Hasina’s virtual events on August 5 seriously, and had conveyed this to the prime minister. He also accused Sheikh Hasina of attacking the judiciary, one of the pillars of the Bangladeshi state, and said that India had allowed her to do so.
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The decision regarding Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to Delhi is not yet finalized, according to Khalilur Rahman. He said that the prime minister was invited to visit Delhi after he assumed power, and again to attend the BRICS conference as the chair of BIMSTEC.
Bangladesh and India have a complex relationship, with several outstanding issues that need to be addressed. The extradition of Sheikh Hasina and the handing over of the suspected killers of Osman Hadi are just a few of the issues that need to be resolved.
They will face several challenges as they move forward. However, with the right approach and a willingness to engage in dialogue, it is possible that they can overcome these challenges and build a stronger relationship.
For now, the focus is on creating an environment conducive to taking Bangladesh-India relations forward. This will require effort and commitment from both sides, but the potential benefits make it a worthwhile endeavor, similar to how deposit rates can impact economic growth.
It is a new beginning.
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