Newly appointed State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Saturday said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit India at an appropriate time following progress in discussions, with the country’s national interests being given priority.
He said the government wants to maintain a positive and effective relationship with India, but Bangladesh cannot move forward with relations with any country by compromising its national interests.
The state minister made the remarks while responding to queries from journalists after paying homage to the Liberation War martyrs at the National Memorial in Savar at noon.
Regarding relations with India, he said, “We want a positive relationship with India. Why wouldn’t we? They are our neighbours. We should have an effective relationship.”
However, Kobir said there will be no compromise on Bangladesh’s national interests. “Not only with India, but with no country can we do anything by compromising our national interests,” he said.
About extradition of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said she went to India after fleeing Bangladesh following her involvement in the killing of 1,500 people during the July 2024 mass uprising, and that judicial proceedings in several cases against her have already reached conclusions, while many other cases remain pending.
The state minister said Bangladesh has an extradition treaty with India. “So, these are not new conditions or a new kind of engagement; these are ongoing issues,” he said.
He said bringing back Hasina and other alleged offenders who fled to India is linked to the expectations of the people of Bangladesh.
“There are more criminals who have fled to India. This is a natural demand of the people of Bangladesh and a matter of their sentiment. We want to engage with India by giving priority to this process,” Kobir said.
“We will engage with India. We want a positive relationship. But it has to be done by prioritising Bangladesh’s national interests,” he said, adding that there is no rush over the Prime Minister’s India visit.
“If we reach an agreement based on our national interests tomorrow, we can go [to India] next week, or the week after. There is no rush here,” the state minister said.
He said necessary preparations and discussions are required before a visit at the prime ministerial level.
“There are issues to discuss and preparations to make. A prime ministerial-level visit is not something that can just happen suddenly. This is not a game,” Kobir said.
He said the two sides need to establish the necessary preparations and groundwork before a meeting between the heads of government. “We are doing exactly that,” he said.
The state minister said Bangladesh is receiving indications of a positive attitude and goodwill from India, noting that it has also acknowledged the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh.
“You can see that statements are also coming from India on this issue. They have acknowledged that the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh have been hurt, particularly by Sheikh Hasina’s press conference on August 5 this year. They have taken note of the matter,” he said, describing this as a “good beginning.”
“Now let us see whether there is some progress in the remaining discussions. Based on the discussions and our national interests, we will certainly visit India when the time is appropriate,” Kobir said.