BNP adamant on Sheikh Hasina’s return home, will Tariq Rahman’s move spoil India-Bangladesh relations?

News India Live, Digital Desk: Acting President of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Tariq Rahman has given a big statement and has intensified the demand of sending back Sheikh Hasina from India. Rehman, who is preparing for his return from London, has made it clear that future relations with India will depend on what stance Delhi takes on the ‘extradition’ of Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina’s extradition: the biggest diplomatic challenge

Sheikh Hasina is currently taking refuge in India. Hundreds of cases of murder and human rights violations have been registered against him in Bangladesh. Tariq Rahman says that for the sake of justice, Hasina should face Bangladeshi courts.

For India, this situation is like ‘here a well, there a ditch’. On the one hand, India has moral obligations towards its old ally (Sheikh Hasina), on the other hand it has to maintain normal relations with the new and future power of Bangladesh (BNP and interim government).

Possible ‘coronation’ of Tariq Rehman and India’s stance

Tariq Rahman, who has been living in exile for a long time, now seems close to taking over the power of Bangladesh. They have conveyed to the Indian leadership that they are ready for cooperation on trade and security issues, but India needs to stand with “the whole of Bangladesh” rather than “one person” (Hasina).

3 major impacts on India-Bangladesh relations:

Security Cooperation: During Sheikh Hasina’s time, Bangladesh had taken strict action against the terrorists of the north-eastern states of India. Will the BNP government also continue the same cooperation?

Connectivity Projects: Many big projects of railway and port connectivity are in the pipeline. Political instability can affect them.

Minority Protection: India has already expressed its concern about the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Tariq Rehman has assured security, but the situation on the ground is still tense.

What do the experts say?

Experts on South Asian affairs believe that India will now have to adopt a policy of ‘wait and watch’. It is necessary to open channels of dialogue with BNP, but extraditing Sheikh Hasina can harm India’s ‘safe haven image’.