'Need conducive environment': Bangladesh PM on India ties as Hasina eyes return

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for a "conducive environment" to improve ties with India, as Dhaka continues to seek New Delhi's cooperation on the extradition of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.Rahman made the remarks on Monday during his first meeting with India's new high commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi.His comments come as his six-month-old government seeks to stabilise relations with Bangladesh's largest neighbour while addressing several contentious issues that emerged after Hasina was removed from power in August 2024.The Prime Minister's Office said Rahman "emphasised the need to create a conducive environment to further advance the bilateral relations between the two countries".Dhaka also called on New Delhi to expedite Hasina's extradition, according to the statement.Hasina has been living in India since the fall of her government. She faces legal proceedings in Bangladesh and was sentenced to death in November.The extradition issue has gained fresh prominence following Hasina's recent public appearance. She addressed an online audio conference, her first interaction with the media since leaving Bangladesh, and said she would return to the country in December.ALSO READ | Is Bangladesh’s turmoil making Sheikh Hasina politically relevant again?The remarks renewed attention on her continued presence and political activities in India and prompted a strong reaction from Dhaka.Bangladesh's foreign ministry criticised India for allowing Hasina to address the event, saying the decision was deeply hurtful and that Bangladesh was outraged.India has said it is examining Dhaka's extradition request in accordance with its legal and judicial procedures.The meeting with Trivedi came as both sides sought to signal a willingness to keep diplomatic channels open. In a post on X, the Indian High Commission said Trivedi reiterated India's commitment to working with Bangladesh in a "positive, constructive and forward-looking manner".What Hasina saidHolding her first public press conference since her ouster exactly two years ago, former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina reiterated her determination to return to her country by the end of this year. Addressing virtually the media gathering in Delhi, Hasina provided her version of events that led her to flee Bangladesh. She asserted that a conspiracy had been hatched to misguide genuine students, who protested against her govt, leading to its dissolution.Highlighting the violent character of the 2024 upheaval, Hasina said that hundreds of offices belonging to her Awami League party were vandalised, houses of Awami leaders were burnt, policemen attacked and killed, and thousands of Awami supporters were assaulted and murdered. Yet, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim govt passed an indemnity ordinance, later converted into a law, to protect the violent protesters.“I, myself, had instituted a judicial inquiry commission to investigate all the cases of violence independently, so that the truth could be known. But after the Yunus regime seized power, they stopped the work of the commission. If they had nothing to hide, why would they prevent the inquiry?” said Hasina. Alleging continuing violence and persecution under the current BNP-led govt, Hasina said that at least 10,000 Awami leaders and workers have been killed or disappeared. “Many Awami leaders, intellectuals and workers also continue to languish in jail without due process or trial, and they have been subjected to torture and denial of their legal rights.”Hasina’s son and senior Awami leader, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who also joined the press conference virtually from the US, stressed on the indemnity point. “None of the police killings, per the indemnity law, can be prosecuted. So, my question is this: Are killings acceptable? If you can have blanket immunity for protesters who killed police officers, killed civilians and Awami League members and leaders, then why blame anybody?”ALSO READ | Indian envoy meets Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman days after Sheikh Hasina's address in DelhiCatch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.