Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first visit to India should be a bilateral visit rather than a meeting on the sidelines of multilateral platforms such as BRICS or the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), PM’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir said on Thursday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Adviser Kobir emphasized the importance of a bilateral visit during his conversation with private TV channels. He expressed the need for mutual respect and engagement, stating that any visit should have a clear outcome. ‘There are issues related to the interests of the two countries and these are not something to rush into,’ Kobir noted, highlighting the necessity of choosing the right timing for the visit.
Kobir further mentioned that groundwork needs to be done on several issues before reaching a consensus between the two sides. He acknowledged recent positive conversations from India and a realization of the impact of events on August 5 on the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh.
India has extended a promise to give Prime Minister Tarique Rahman an ‘honourable welcome’ during his visit, making their intent clear, as reported by Indian media outlet The Print. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi called for both nations to work together to build a relationship based on ‘mutual and unconditional trust,’ emphasizing that differences can be resolved through engagement and dialogue.
Trivedi conveyed assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding a future visit by the Bangladesh Prime Minister. He stated that Prime Minister Modi expressed a desire to meet and assured an honourable reception for Rahman during his visit to India.
Bangladesh has urged India to act expeditiously on its request to create a conducive environment for Prime Minister Rahman’s bilateral visit. A.K.M. Shahidul Karim, spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the need for a ‘propitious environment’ for the visit and reiterated Bangladesh’s request for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and other fugitive criminals.
The Indian government is examining the extradition request as part of ongoing judicial and internal legal processes, stated Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. An invitation has been extended to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for a bilateral visit and for the outreach session of the BRICS Summit. Further updates on the matter are awaited.