Delhi withdraws notice on PM`s possible visit within an hour

A formal notification issued by India's Rashtrapati Bhavan hinting at preparations for Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's anticipated visit to New Delhi was abruptly withdrawn within an hour of its publication on Friday, an unusual manoeuvre that the influential Indian Express described as highly irregular and one that has sent ripples through bilateral diplomatic circles.

The notification, published around 2 p.m. local time via Rashtrapati Bhavan's website and India's Press Information Bureau, announced the suspension of Saturday's routine change-of-guard ceremony at the presidential forecourt, citing the need for a full dress rehearsal to formally welcome the Bangladeshi premier. Although it stopped short of naming Rahman explicitly or specifying exact dates, diplomatic sources widely interpreted it as a signal that final arrangements for the high-profile visit were underway. Barely half an hour to an hour later, however, Rashtrapati Bhavan quietly rescinded the notice without offering any explanation, issuing a fresh bulletin cancelling the earlier announcement altogether.

Officials from both foreign ministries had previously indicated that the visit might take place in the third week of August or early September, but recent developments have injected a degree of chill and complexity into bilateral ties. Chief among them is Dhaka's 16 August announcement that ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina -- sentenced to death for crimes against humanity -- had delivered a virtual address to the media on 5 August while residing in Indian territory, and had declared her intention to return to Bangladesh in December. Dhaka regards her continued political activity from Indian soil as a serious impediment to improving bilateral relations, and has pressed New Delhi in unambiguous terms to expedite her extradition along with the handover of other accused individuals.

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According to reports from Indian outlets including The Print, India has stated that Bangladesh's extradition request is under review within its legal and judicial framework. While New Delhi is said to remain keen on extending a warm welcome to Rahman and thawing relations, analysts view the hasty issuance and swift retraction of the Rashtrapati Bhavan notice as symptomatic of underlying unease and strategic hesitation on the Indian side. Neither Dhaka nor Delhi has yet offered an official high-level comment on the episode.