Hasina spat stalls Bangladesh-India reset. What would break the deadlock?

Dhaka, Bangladesh — New Delhi and Dhaka had been quietly planning Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first visit to India since taking office earlier this year, when a news conference shattered those efforts.Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, convicted of crimes against humanity in her country, addressed a news conference held in the heart of the Indian capital by video on August 5, where she, her son and other party colleagues criticised the mass uprising that had brought her down.Bangladesh responded swiftly, saying that it was “outraged” that Hasina had been allowed to speak publicly from Indian soil, where she has been in exile since her ouster in August 2024. Dhaka had specifically warned New Delhi against allowing political activities that could affect bilateral relations.Bangladesh subsequently said a “propitious environment” was needed before the trip, while asking New Delhi to act on extradition requests involving Hasina and other fugitives.India says the requests remain “under examination” through established procedures.But interviews with Bangladeshi officials and analysts suggest the immediate dispute may be more nuanced than a simple extradition standoff.The k...