A Tarique Rahman India visit may take place between August 23 and 25, according to an Indian newspaper report published on Friday. If confirmed, the trip would mark the Bangladeshi prime minister’s first visit to India since he took office in February, and it comes at a delicate moment for Bangladesh India relations.
The proposed dates were first reported by an Indian daily and quickly cited by outlets across the region. Dhaka and New Delhi have reportedly been in discussion for weeks over the terms of the visit, as both governments attempt to steady a relationship that has been under strain since 2024.
Tarique Rahman India visit – No Final Decision Confirmed, Dhaka Says
Hours after the initial report emerged, Bangladesh’s government pushed back on the certainty of the timeline. A A M Saleh, press secretary to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, said that no decision had yet been made on the visit. He added that Dhaka was still waiting for a response from New Delhi regarding the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other individuals it considers fugitives.
Neither the Bangladeshi nor the Indian foreign ministry offered immediate comment when the initial dates were reported. India’s foreign ministry spokesperson later said, at a routine briefing, that there was nothing further to add on the matter.
Bangladesh India Relations Since the 2024 Ouster
Bangladesh India relations have remained tense since the mass protests of 2024 that forced Sheikh Hasina from power after more than a decade in office. Hasina fled to India during the unrest and has lived there in exile ever since. Dhaka has repeatedly pressed New Delhi for her extradition, along with that of other officials it wants returned to face legal proceedings. India has said it is examining the request, though no formal response has been issued.
The dispute took on further weight in November, when a Bangladeshi court sentenced Hasina to death in absentia over her role in ordering a deadly crackdown on the student-led uprising that ended her government. Hasina has denied the charges and described them as politically motivated. She has also said publicly that she intends to return to Bangladesh in December, a statement that Dhaka has criticised.
The Sheikh Hasina Extradition Dispute and the India Trip
The Sheikh Hasina extradition dispute remains the central obstacle standing between the two countries and a formal visit. Rahman’s administration, in office for just over six months, has said it wants closer ties with India but has also made clear that a more favourable diplomatic climate is required before the trip can proceed. That position was reiterated last week, shortly after Hasina addressed supporters from Indian territory, a move Dhaka publicly condemned.
Despite the unresolved dispute, both governments are understood to have continued working toward a visit for weeks, with earlier reports suggesting a window between August 20 and 25 was under active consideration. Officials on both sides have also pointed to broader matters awaiting discussion, including cooperation on water sharing, energy supply and trade, all of which are expected to feature prominently once a visit does take place.
What Comes Next
For now, the Tarique Rahman India visit remains provisional rather than confirmed. Bangladeshi officials have stressed that the final decision hinges on progress in talks over the extradition question, while Indian officials have offered little beyond acknowledging that discussions are ongoing. Should the visit proceed as reported, it would represent the first formal engagement between the two leaders since Rahman assumed office, and a significant test of whether Bangladesh and India can move past the tensions that have defined their relationship since 2024.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 22nd, 2026
Follow SouthAsianDesk on X, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business and current affairs from across South Asia.
