Bangladesh has confirmed its intention to seek the extradition of its convicted former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, from India. However, a top foreign affairs official has assured that this specific request will not derail the broader, crucial relationship between the two neighbouring nations.
Extradition Bid and Bilateral Priorities
On Sunday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain stated that while Dhaka will formally request the extradition to implement the court's punishment, this will not impact other key diplomatic agendas. He emphasised that Bangladesh will continue to actively pursue its primary objectives with New Delhi, which include finalising the long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement and putting a permanent stop to the issue of border killings.
"Since she (Hasina) is convicted, we surely want her extradition to implement the punishment. I do not think other issues will get stuck because of this," Hossain said. He reiterated Bangladesh's consistent policy of maintaining a productive working relationship with India, founded on mutual respect and shared interests.
Critique of Past Engagement and Pakistan Ties
The adviser offered a critique of the previous government's tenure, noting that despite enjoying a "warm" relationship with India, it failed to resolve the longstanding disputes over Teesta water sharing and border killings during its 15 years in power.
Shifting focus to another neighbour, Hossain commented on relations with Pakistan. He asserted that bilateral ties had been "deliberately kept in a bad situation" for years under the past regime. The current government's decision, he clarified, is to establish normal relations with Pakistan, describing it as "nothing extraordinary."
One-Time Travel Pass for Tarique Rahman
In a separate but significant domestic political development, Adviser Hossain addressed the situation of BNP's acting chairman, Tarique Rahman. He stated that the government is prepared to issue a one-time travel pass to facilitate Rahman's return from exile in the UK, where he has lived for the past 17 years.
Hossain explained that this special pass is designed for individuals who do not possess a valid passport. "It's for one-time use. It takes only a day to issue such a pass," he said, indicating a swift administrative process if Rahman expresses a desire to come back to Bangladesh.
