ISLAMABAD: The Bangladesh interim administration has formally renewed itsdemand for India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,convicted this week of crimes against humanity for orchestrating a deadlycrackdown on student protests. The 78-year-old leader, who fled to NewDelhi in August 2024 following the collapse of her authoritarian regime,enjoyed unwavering support from Indian authorities during her tenure.Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain confirmed to journalists that Dhakadispatched yet another diplomatic note seeking her return.
This marks the third official request since Hasina’s exile, as reported bythe leading daily Prothom Alo. The tribunal’s death sentence stemmed fromthe violent suppression that claimed nearly 1,400 lives, according toUnited Nations estimates, in a bid to cling to power amid widespreadunrest. Dhaka’s Foreign Ministry previously asserted that bilateralextradition pacts impose a legal and moral obligation on New Delhi tofacilitate her handover, underscoring the gravity of the charges.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs acknowledged the verdict but refrainedfrom commenting directly on the extradition plea, maintaining silence onthe latest communication as well. Relations between the neighboring nationshave soured since Hasina’s ouster, exacerbated by New Delhi’s historicalbacking of her government, which fueled perceptions of interference inBangladeshi affairs. Political instability persists in Dhaka, with thecampaign for February 2026 elections marred by sporadic violence and deepdivisions.
Amid these tensions, glimmers of reconciliation emerged this week asBangladesh’s National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman visited India andheld talks with his counterpart Ajit Doval. The discussions reportedlyaddressed mutual security concerns, hinting at a potential thaw. However,Bangladesh media outlets indicate that if India continues to withholdHasina, Dhaka may escalate by seeking Interpol’s assistance to secure aninternational arrest warrant, further complicating bilateral dynamics.
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The case exemplifies the fragile balance in South Asian geopolitics, wherepersonal exiles intersect with national sovereignty claims. As Bangladeshnavigates its transitional phase toward democratic restoration, theunresolved extradition saga risks prolonging regional distrust andhindering cooperative efforts on shared borders and trade.
Source:www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/politics/sheikh-hasina-extradition-demand”>https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/politics/sheikh-hasina-extradition-demand
