Bangladesh PM Invited to BRICS Summit as Extradition Looms Over New Delhi Ties
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has received an invitation to the upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi. Meanwhile, Dhaka is pursuing the official extradition of former leader Sheikh Hasina under a 2013 bilateral treaty.
The diplomatic landscape between Dhaka and New Delhi is drawing significant international attention as preparations unfold for high-level regional engagements. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended a bilateral visit invitation to the Bangladesh prime minister immediately after assuming office in February. This early diplomatic overture underscored the importance New Delhi places on its relationship with its eastern neighbor, setting the stage for deeper bilateral discussions on various regional matters.
Adding to the diplomatic calendar, Bangladesh has been officially invited to participate in the expanded session of the 18th BRICS summit. This prestigious gathering is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. Bangladesh received this invitation in its capacity as the current chair of BIMSTEC, highlighting the country's growing multilateral role and its active participation in regional economic and strategic frameworks across South and Southeast Asia.
Beneath the surface of these multilateral engagements, a critical legal and political issue remains central to bilateral relations: the ongoing pursuit of accountability regarding former leadership. Bangladesh has formally requested the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from Indian authorities. This formal request is anchored in the existing bilateral extradition treaty that was signed between Bangladesh and India back in 2013, creating a legal mechanism to handle such high-profile cross-border requests.
The convergence of the upcoming September BRICS summit and the pending extradition demand places a distinct focus on how both governments will navigate these complex diplomatic currents. While the invitation to New Delhi demonstrates the ongoing institutional ties and regional cooperation through platforms like BIMSTEC, the unresolved extradition matter concerning Sheikh Hasina under the 2013 agreement continues to be a notable point of discussion between the two administrations.
