Bangladesh on Sunday confirmed two key demands it has raised with India ahead of Prime Minister Tariq Rahman’s proposed bilateral visit. Earlier, Times
Now reported that the Bangladesh Prime Minister could visit New Delhi on a bilateral visit by the end of August, ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12-13. Speaking in Dhaka, Bangladesh Foreign Ministry spokesperson AKM Shahidul Karim said Dhaka believes a "propitious environment" needs to be created for the visit and added that Bangladesh has asked Indian authorities to expedite the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives accused of serious crimes. "We are of the view that a propitious environment needs to be created for this visit," Karim said, adding that Bangladesh has requested India to "expeditiously act" on its demand to extradite Sheikh Hasina and other fugitive killers. Dhaka has also sought the handing over of those accused in the killing of Shahid Usman Hadi, citing the India-Bangladesh bilateral extradition treaty.
Will Tariq Rahman Visit India?
The spokesperson also confirmed that officials from India and Bangladesh have been in touch for several weeks over the possibility of Prime Minister Tariq Rahman travelling to India."Officials of India and Bangladesh have been in touch for several weeks on the possibility of PM Rahman to India," Karim said. However, he claimed that the process was "vitiated" on August 5 following a press conference by Sheikh Hasina.
Karim further pointed out that Hasina has been convicted by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for crimes against humanity.
The remarks come amid efforts by Dhaka and New Delhi to work out the modalities of Rahman’s proposed bilateral visit, with Bangladesh now publicly laying out the conditions it believes are necessary for creating a conducive atmosphere for the trip.
