Chief Adviser’s High Representative Khalilur Rahman on Tuesday said Bangladesh has formally urged India not to allow former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to use its territory as a platform for making anti-state or anti-government remarks.

He made the statement while briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, following recent bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit between Dr Yunus and Indian PM Narendra Modi, held on April 4 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok.

He mentioned that during the meeting, they placed a request regarding Hasina’s extradition and both sides will work on it, Khalilur said, adding, “Prime Minister Modi clearly stated that India’s relationship with Bangladesh is not based on any individual or political party, but on state-to-state ties. We agree with that and wish to strengthen bilateral relations on that basis.”

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir were also present at the event.

Minority repression ‘hurts national progress’

Addressing a separate issue, Khalilur said that suppression of minority communities only harms a country’s development.

He blamed the legacy of British colonial rule for sowing communal divisions that still persist in the subcontinent.

“Whenever we hold discussions with India, they bring up the issue of minority repression in Bangladesh. It is unfortunate that although the British are gone, the problems they created still persist. Dividing communities was a colonial tactic, and both our nations continue to suffer from it,” he said.

He warned that excluding minorities from the mainstream weakens a nation’s overall capacity.

“When people cannot participate in national life, the country loses out,” he noted.

Khalilur also addressed the political violence that followed the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government.

“We acknowledge that in the five to seven days following August 5, there was effectively no functioning government. During that period, many incidents took place. Unfortunately, members and supporters of the fallen party, regardless of their religion, faced various forms of violence. This is deeply regrettable. No one should take the law into their own hands,” he said.

Water treaty negotiations ongoing

Khalilur mentioned that discussions are ongoing with India to renew the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, which expires in 2026.

“Both countries are maintaining communication to ensure a smooth negotiation process. We believe India will extend constructive cooperation,” he said.

He also raised concerns over the Teesta River, pointing out that 14 per cent of Bangladesh’s population lives in the Teesta basin.

He noted that their livelihoods, the region’s ecology, and future are all dependent on the availability of water. Without water, the area becomes uninhabitable, he said.

Khalilur emphasised that ensuring a minimum flow of water in the Teesta basin is a top priority for the government, adding that they cannot allow such a large portion of population to live in a precarious condition.

“That is why we said India to sign a water-sharing agreement while also exploring alternative solutions,” he added.