Bangladesh, which had adopted a confrontational stance with India following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime in August last year, has apparently softened its position on the matter. The interim government in Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, had been demanding the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. However, recent developments indicate a shift in their approach.
#### Call for Restrictions on Sheikh Hasina
In an interview with The Hindu, Md. Touhid Hossain, the interim government’s foreign affairs advisor, urged India to consider imposing restrictions on Sheikh Hasina if New Delhi is unwilling to extradite her at this point. Hossain emphasized that such restrictions would help control the situation in Bangladesh, where Hasina’s inflammatory comments have been triggering public outrage.
“For 15 years, she was in power and people are very, very angry by her actions. So, we hope that the Indian government at least puts some restrictions on her so that she cannot make inflammatory statements while in India,” Hossain said.
#### Historical Bilateral Cooperation
Hossain highlighted the historically strong bilateral cooperation between India and Bangladesh, even before the Sheikh Hasina era. He pointed to the 1996-1997 Ganges Water Agreement as an example of successful collaboration between the two nations.
“Why should we look at just the last 15 years? Even during the BNP era (2001-2006), there was rapid growth in trade between the two countries,” Hossain noted.
#### Upcoming BIMSTEC Summit
Hossain expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus will hold discussions on strengthening bilateral ties at the upcoming BIMSTEC summit in April. The summit, scheduled to take place in Bangkok, will provide an opportunity for both leaders to address key issues and explore avenues for cooperation.
Earlier, during a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar at a multilateral conference in Muscat, the Bangladesh foreign advisor sought India’s support to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
#### Current State of India-Bangladesh Relations
India-Bangladesh relations have hit an all-time low following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has faced criticism from New Delhi for not doing enough to protect minorities, especially Hindus, from communal violence in Bangladesh. The Indian government has accused the Yunus-led administration of turning a blind eye to atrocities perpetrated by radical Islamist elements against the minority Hindu community.
As both nations navigate these challenges, the upcoming BIMSTEC summit presents an opportunity to rebuild trust and strengthen bilateral ties.
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