Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is likely to undertake his first official visit to India in the August 20-25 window, with the two capitals currently discussing the exact dates.“Both sides have been interested in a bilateral visit, but the schedule was an issue. After weighing various schedules, the top officials of both countries have come close to a schedule between August 20 and 25,” Bangladesh’s The Daily Star quoted a diplomatic source in New Delhi as saying.As per the report, two possible schedules are currently under consideration — August 20-21 and August 21-22.The final dates are expected to be decided after Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi resumes his duties in Dhaka.The development comes after Trivedi held a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on August 11, a day after meeting Rahman in Dhaka.The proposed visit assumes significance amid recent diplomatic tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi following deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s public remarks from New Delhi, where she has been living since being ousted after a student-led uprising on August 5, 2024. It was her first interaction with the press since her ouster.Dhaka had objected to Sheikh Hasina’s interaction, which was held on the second anniversary of her government’s ouster. In response, New Delhi pointed out that it was a private event and that India would not endorse her remarks.On Monday, during the meeting between Rahman and Trivedi, Bangladesh expressed “hope” that India would expedite the extradition process for the former prime minister.According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, “Bangladesh expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process of Sheikh Hasina.”Rahman became prime minister after his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) swept the parliamentary elections in February. The BNP government succeeded the caretaker administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which governed the country following Hasina’s ouster.Sheikh Hasina has said she plans to return home by December.(With ANI inputs)
