New Delhi, August 18: Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Veena Sikri, has stated that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government is apprehensive about Sheikh Hasina’s announcement to return to the country by December. She believes that the Awami League’s growing popularity is causing Dhaka to distance itself from India, as it has not responded to India’s invitations for six months.
Sikri noted that the Rahman government is using Sheikh Hasina as an excuse to avoid visiting India, despite the fact that extradition is a legal matter. The former diplomat pointed out that Tarique Rahman, who once criticized Hasina, has changed his stance since coming to power.
Sikri explained, “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was invited to visit India six months ago, in February 2026, shortly after he took office. I believe this was the first invitation he received from the Indian government after becoming Prime Minister, and we have been waiting for a response for six months. A few weeks ago, we extended a second invitation to him for the BRICS summit as the chairman of BIMSTEC.”
She further remarked, “During Muhammad Yunus’s tenure, when the Awami League faced restrictions, Tarique Rahman stated that he did not support any bans on political parties. He believed that parties should remain active, and if people disapprove, they would not vote for them. While living in London, he frequently addressed political rallies via video, making various comments against the government. Sheikh Hasina never imposed any restrictions on him.”
Veena Sikri indicated that such actions have arisen since Rahman became Prime Minister. He is using Sheikh Hasina as a reason for not visiting India. Initially, there were discussions about Rahman visiting India between August 20-22. However, following Sheikh Hasina’s press conference on August 5, this has become a contentious issue. Extradition is a legal matter that takes time, and the Bangladeshi government seems to be frightened. Hasina announced her return to the country by December, which has alarmed the Rahman government. They are aware of the Awami League’s significant popularity, which is increasing daily.
Retired Major General Dhruv Katoch commented, “I believe the current atmosphere is quite favorable. If Bangladesh desires improvement, it is up to them. If they want to enhance relations, they need to improve their standing. Regarding Sheikh Hasina’s extradition, that will not happen under any circumstances. She has sought refuge here and will remain as long as she wishes. If Bangladesh wants to strengthen ties with China and Pakistan, that is their choice. However, they must not interfere in India’s matters. We want our borders to remain secure, no matter what.”
Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, M. Riaz Hamidullah, addressed the relationship between the two countries, stating, “There are many issues, but every challenge or shortcoming presents an opportunity to work together. Numerous MOUs are being signed, and ordinary people are asking the High Commissioner or Ambassador, ‘How can I get involved?'”
Hamidullah also mentioned a letter from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the Indian government dated February 26, where he emphasized “common people’s expectations.” He questioned why Rahman chose to underline “common” instead of simply saying “people.” He stressed the need to “reinforce our cooperative engagement,” instead of just mentioning “cooperation” or “engagement.”
He concluded that the focus on public engagement has become somewhat clichéd. In terms of cooperation, we are more entangled than in collaboration. The economies of both our countries rely almost 95-99% on the private sector.
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