Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first trip to India has been put on hold after Dhaka said Sheikh Hasina’s August 5 press conference from New Delhi had disrupted the atmosphere needed for the visit. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said officials from both countries had been discussing a possible solution for several weeks.
The delay underscores the unresolved dispute over Hasina, who fled to India after the July 2024 student-led uprising that forced her from office. Rahman, who became prime minister in February, had sought to improve ties with New Delhi, but Dhaka is demanding action on its request for Hasina’s extradition.
What happened to the planned visit
India invited Rahman for a stand-alone visit this month, before next month’s BRICS summit, which India is currently chairing. The proposed trip followed exchanges between senior ministers and diplomats from the two countries.
The plans were derailed after Hasina addressed a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in New Delhi on August 5, two years after her ouster. India said it was not involved in organising the event, but Bangladesh said a “propitious environment” had to be created before Rahman could visit.
Related coverage: What Sheikh Hasina may say in her August 5 address from India.
Why Sheikh Hasina remains central to the dispute
Bangladesh has made Hasina’s extradition a major issue. She was sentenced to death in absentia in November 2025, and Dhaka said in an August 16 post that it would continue pursuing the extradition of Hasina and other people it described as fugitive criminals.
India said earlier this month that it was considering the request under established procedure. The two countries have an extradition treaty, although it contains an exception for political cases. Dhaka also views Hasina’s political speeches from India as interference in its internal affairs.
What the delay means for bilateral relations
India and Bangladesh have offered few public details about the visit. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said he had nothing to announce, while Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said bilateral ties had to meet both countries’ mutual interests. Rahman’s foreign affairs adviser, Humayun Kabir, said Dhaka was in no rush and was still assessing what relationship India wanted with the new Bangladeshi government.
The tensions extend beyond Hasina. Bangladesh is seeking a relationship based on sovereign equality, national dignity, non-interference and mutual benefit, while India is concerned about Bangladesh moving closer to Pakistan. Disputes also include India’s planned 4,096km border fence, deportations of people India identifies as undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants, and anti-Bangladesh rhetoric from Indian ruling-party officials.
Analysts cited in the source report said the neighbours cannot simply disengage and that dialogue will be necessary. They also said India must adjust to a Bangladeshi government that does not share the same closeness to New Delhi as Hasina’s administration did.
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