Jaiswal Has ‘Nothing to Add’ on Bangladesh PM’s India Trip
Tarique Rahman, the prime minister of Bangladesh, may visit New Delhi, but the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said it has no formal information to provide. According to official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, New Delhi has not officially commented on the trip. Mr. Jaiswal highlighted the 30-year duration of the 1996 Ganga Water Sharing Treaty and said that the Joint Rivers Commission routinely discusses river-related matters. In response to reports that Bangladesh might form a regional military alliance with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, he confirmed that India is keeping a careful eye on events in West Asia but refrained from commenting more.
A.A.M. Saleh, the press secretary for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, affirmed that no final decision has been made about the visit. Since PM Tarique Rahman took office in February, talks between New Delhi and Dhaka have continued for many weeks. But when previous PM Sheikh Hasina was overthrown in August 2024 and fled to India during widespread demonstrations organised by students, ties between the two countries are still tense.
Dhaka’s extradition petitions for Hasina and other wanted criminals continue to be connected to its diplomatic posture. Tensions escalated as Dhaka voiced disapproval of Hasina speaking to reporters at an online event in Delhi, emphasising that a more conducive diplomatic setting is necessary for the visit to go forward. Both countries continue talks to resolve diplomatic tension and complete the itinerary as India reviews the extradition request.
