Prime Minister's India Visit to Take Place Upon Creating Favorable Environment: State Minister for Foreign Affairs

No specific date has yet been finalized for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to India. However, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir has stated that this bilateral visit will take place once mutual respect, national interests, and an appropriate diplomatic environment are established. He made these remarks while speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday

The State Minister clarified that while no specific date has been set yet, the visit will certainly happen at an appropriate time. The schedule will be determined by considering the schedules of the prime ministers of both countries, mutual respect, and national interests. He added that no decision has been made yet on whether the visit will take place ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.

Dismissing the perception that discussions regarding the visit between Dhaka and New Delhi have stalled, Humayun Kabir said that the lack of a set date does not mean talks were halted; rather, communication has been ongoing. Mentioning that statements made to the media by ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasan from Delhi on August 5 hurt the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh, he noted that Dhaka has clearly communicated its position on the matter to India.

Meanwhile, the State Minister described the cancellation of an international seminar featuring speakers associated with the Awami League in New Delhi on August 29, due to a lack of police permission, as a "positive step." He expressed hope that just as Bangladesh will not harbor fugitives sought by India, India will also not provide shelter anywhere in its territory to fugitives or individuals accused of serious crimes fleeing from Bangladesh, maintaining this mutual expectation and constructive approach moving forward.