TDS Desk:

‎Bangladesh has urged India to create a “favorable environment” for a possible visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, seeking New Delhi’s cooperation in repatriating ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and suspects in the murder of Inquilab Mancha convener Sharif Osman Hadi.

‎Foreign Ministry spokesperson AKM Shahidul Karim made the remarks during a brief press briefing at the ministry on Sunday.
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‎He said officials from Bangladesh and India had been in contact over the past several weeks regarding a possible bilateral visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
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‎However, the process has faced some disruption following Sheikh Hasina’s recent public remarks in Delhi, he said.
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‎“ We believe that a favorable environment needs to be created for this visit,” the spokesperson said.
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‎To that end, Bangladesh has asked the Indian authorities to take prompt steps to extradite Sheikh Hasina and other fugitive convicts under the bilateral extradition treaty, Karim said. Dhaka has also requested India to hand over the suspects accused in the murder of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi.
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‎“We are waiting for their response,” he added.
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‎Sheikh Hasina was convicted by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal in a crimes-against-humanity case.
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‎Karim reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to maintaining friendly bilateral relations with neighboring countries and others based on sovereign equality, national dignity, non-interference in internal affairs and mutual interests.
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‎He said Bangladesh would continue to pursue its “Bangladesh First” policy.
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‎Earlier in April, Bangladesh had also requested the repatriation of Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal during a foreign minister-level meeting between Bangladesh and India in New Delhi.
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‎At the same meeting, Bangladesh said the two countries had agreed to cooperate on the extradition of suspects in the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi.