India seeks ‘positive and constructive’ relations with Bangladesh: MEA

India said it seeks positive and constructive ties with Bangladesh based on mutual interests and reciprocity amid uncertainty over Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit. New Delhi said Bangladesh's extradition request for Sheikh Hasina is under established processes and is also examining Dhaka's energy request

New Delhi: India on Tuesday said it desires “positive and constructive” relations with Dhaka based on “mutuality of interests and reciprocity” amid uncertainty over Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to New Delhi.

The ties between the two countries came under some fresh strain after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina held a virtual media interaction in New Delhi on August 5. Following Hasina’s press interaction, Dhaka reiterated its demand for her extradition and even sought to link it with Rahman’s possible visit to India.

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“India desires positive, constructive and forward-looking relations with Bangladesh based on mutuality of interests and reciprocity,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his bi-weekly media briefing.

“Our position on the press conference by the former Bangladesh prime minister needs no repetition. On the issue of extraditions, our consistent position has been that these requests are being examined as part of our established processes,” he said.

Following Hasina’s media event, India sought to distance itself from it saying New Delhi neither played a role in it nor endorsed her comments.

The Bangladesh foreign ministry had reacted sharply to Hasina’s media interaction and said the country is “outraged” as the interaction was permitted to be held despite Dhaka conveying concerns to New Delhi over the likely ramifications of the event on the bilateral relations.

Hasina, 78, was ousted from power in August 2024 following violent student-led protests. She has been living in India since fleeing Dhaka on August 5 that year. Amid the continuing strain in ties, India invited Prime Minister Rahman for a bilateral visit as well as to attend the outreach session of the upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi.

India is hosting the annual BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 that is expected to deliberate extensively on a number of pressing global challenges including the economic consequences of the West Asia crisis. Asked about Bangladesh requesting India help it deal with the ongoing energy crisis, Jaiswal indicated that it is being examined.

Bangladesh has been reeling under an acute energy crisis. “We have an ongoing energy cooperation with Bangladesh. As far as the additional request is concerned, we are examining this given our own requirements, given our refining capacity, as also the availability that is there on our side,” he said.