Published : 19 Aug 2026, 06:05 AM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:34 AM
India has said it remains hopeful of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visiting New Delhi, while calling for “mutuality of interest and reciprocity” in ties with Bangladesh.
Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal made the comments on Tuesday at a regular media briefing, responding to Dhaka’s demand for Sheikh Hasina’s extradition as a condition for Tarique’s possible visit, The Hindustan Times reports.
Jaiswal said India wants “positive, constructive and forward-looking relations based on mutual interests and reciprocity”.
He said India’s position on extradition requests remains unchanged, with requests from Bangladesh for Hasina and other fugitives being examined through established processes.
Dhaka had on Sunday called for the extradition of the ousted prime minister, other fugitive criminals and the suspected killers of Bangladeshi politician Sharif Osman Hadi arrested in West Bengal.
The Indian daily reported that a Tarique visit at this point appears unlikely.
He is also not likely to attend the BRICS Summit in India in September, despite being invited as chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), with Bangladesh likely to send another leader or official, it added.
Fuel Request
Jaiswal said India is examining Bangladesh’s request for additional fuel supplies amid an energy crisis.
He said the two countries have ongoing energy cooperation, while India is considering the additional request based on its own requirements, refining capacity and fuel availability.
Security, Teesta Talks
Asked about a recent United Nations Security Council body report on al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) seeking to establish cells in Bangladesh, Jaiswal called terrorism and security a common challenge and said India wanted to tackle it jointly.
On possible cooperation over the Teesta, Jaiswal said water-related discussions are handled through the bilateral Joint Rivers Commission and other established dialogue mechanisms.
Teesta is the only one of the 54 shared rivers between the two countries for which they have yet to reach an agreement.
