Hasina extradition not sole determinant of Indo-Bangla ties

Bangladesh's ties with India do not depend on single issues like extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain told reporters Wednesday, amid prevailing contentions on both sides.
"This is just one of several issues between us--there are many other issues in our relationship with India," he pointed out, when asked whether India's refusal to send back Hasina could affect the bilateral ties.
He said that efforts to bring Hasina back from Delhi and to strengthen ties with India would proceed simultaneously.
Mr Touhid said there are several bilateral matters between the two nations, and efforts to address them through discussion would continue.
Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry recently sent note verbal to Delhi seeking extradition of Hasina, who fled to India in the face of a mass uprising on August 5.
Asked about the main foreign-relation priorities for Bangladesh in the new year, he said, "Priority is to resolve the Rohingya crisis, priority is to keep good relations with those three countries, and priority is to advance our economic and diplomatic efforts while ensuring stability."
He added: "The situation in Myanmar's Rakhine is extremely challenging because the ground realities there have changed."
He said Bangladesh's main objective is to ensure the rights and security of the forcibly displaced Rohingya people.
Responding to a question as to whether there is any particular priority for one country over another, Touhid stated that there is no lesser priority given to the United States, India, or China.
"We place equal priority on maintaining ties with these three countries as our various interests are deeply aligned with them," he explained, adding that these countries also have their own interests in maintaining good relations with Bangladesh.
The foreign adviser expressed the hope that Dhaka's relations with these global powers would be further strengthened by the end of this year.
Regarding relations with China, Touhid also disclosed his plans to visit China on January 20 for bilateral discussions on various matters between the two nations.
"China has extended an invitation, and I will be going to address the issues we share," he said, refraining from elaborating on the specific topics to be discussed during his upcoming bilateral visit to Beijing.

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