Bangladesh, Aug. 21 -- he unhelpful circus of speculation and innuendo in the Indian media over a possible visit to India by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reached a crescendo on Friday (Aug. 21), as the Indian Express came up with the blaring headline that "Amid Sheikh Hasina extradition row, Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman's India visit likely next week".

The rewriting of the rules of engagement between Dhaka and Delhi is unquestionably one of the most intriguing developments in the geopolitics of the region in recent times, so it certainly had news value. Which meant news editors at even some of the bastions of good journalism like the Express, paid no regard to its sheer improbability. Or what a spectacular turnaround it would represent...