India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on Monday, with bilateral ties and several key issues, including the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, reportedly coming up for discussion.
The meeting was described as “positive” by Indian government sources. Trivedi conveyed India’s intention to work with Bangladesh in a “positive, constructive and forward-looking manner” and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations.
According to the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka urged India to expedite the process of extraditing Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India. The return of a suspect wanted in the murder of Osman Hadi was also reportedly discussed.
“Bangladesh hopes that India will expedite the process of extraditing Sheikh Hasina,” the Bangladesh PM’s Press Wing said in a statement following the meeting.
Trivedi said the two countries have issues to resolve but stressed that stronger bilateral relations should remain the focus.
“We have issues, and so does Bangladesh. But there is only one people’s issue: good relations. There is no issue on which we cannot sit down and find a solution,” he said.
India invites Tarique Rahman to visit
Trivedi also said New Delhi had invited Tarique Rahman to visit India. He expressed optimism about the future of bilateral relations, highlighting the shared history and interests of the two countries.
“We don’t share border. We share dreams. I think in the coming days, everything will be fine, and the issues will have to be sorted out on both sides,” Trivedi said.
The Indian envoy is travelling to Delhi to brief the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of External Affairs about his meeting with Rahman.
Trivedi also held discussions with Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed in Dhaka.
