India calls for ‘reciprocity’ in ties as Dhaka demands Hasina extradition

Two days after Bangladesh announced a "favorable context" for former Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to India, New Delhi emphasized its desire for positive, constructive, and forward-looking relations with Dhaka based on "mutuality of interests and reciprocity". The emphasis on "reciprocity" and mutual interests indicates that India is not prepared to negotiate on sensitive issues such as security concerns before committing to any steps.

The main point of disagreement has been the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been residing in India for the past two years. Dhaka has requested the Indian authorities to "promptly act on the request to extradite Sheikh Hasina" and "other fugitive criminals, and to deliver to Bangladesh the accused killers of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi in accordance with our bilateral extradition treaty".

While many in Bangladesh view this as a "red line", India sees the need to respond to Bangladesh's extradition request and provide a "credible response". The extradition request was initially filed by the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus in 2024 and has been reiterated by the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party government that took office in February.

India stated that its position on the matter remains unchanged and that the extradition requests are being evaluated through established procedures. Earlier, the Indian government denied having any influence over Hasina's press interaction on August 5, where she announced her intention to return to Bangladesh in December and even suggested that she could face death.

However, Jaiswal did not confirm or deny any potential visit by the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, despite the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry confirming on Sunday that discussions were underway for a possible visit. The Tarique Rahman government has made it clear that it is waiting for a response from India, and Jaiswal reiterated that the Indian government has extended a cordial invitation for the Bangladesh Prime Minister to visit India.

When asked about a possible visit date, Jaiswal stated that they had previously extended a friendly invitation, and any updates or developments in this regard would be shared accordingly.