Newly appointed State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir has said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would visit India at an appropriate time after progress in bilateral discussions, with Bangladesh’s national interests guiding any decision.
He said the government wanted to maintain a positive and effective relatio PM’s India visit: State ministership with India but would not compromise the country’s national interests in dealing with any state.
Kobir made the remarks while responding to journalists after paying tribute to Liberation War martyrs at the National Memorial in Savar at noon.
“We want a positive relationship with India. Why wouldn’t we? They are our neighbours. We should have an effective relationship,” he said.
However, the state minister said Bangladesh’s national interests would remain the priority.
“Not only with India, but with no country can we do anything by compromising our national interests,” he said.
On the extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Kobir said she fled to India after what he described as her involvement in the killing of 1,500 people during the July 2024 mass uprising.
He said judicial proceedings in several cases against Hasina had already concluded, while many others remained pending.
Kobir noted that 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 had fled to India was linked to the expectations and sentiments of the Bangladeshi people.
“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.
Kobir said there was no rush over the Prime Minister’s proposed visit to India.
“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,” he said.
The state minister said a prime ministerial-level visit required necessary preparations and discussions between the two sides.
“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,” he said.
He said both countries needed to complete the necessary groundwork before a meeting between the heads of government.
“We are doing exactly that,” Kobir said.
The state minister said Bangladesh was receiving indications of a positive attitude and goodwill from India and that New Delhi had also acknowledged the sentiments of the Bangladeshi people.
“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 5 August this year. They have taken note of the matter,” he said, describing it 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.
