Diplomatic Correspondent :
Dhaka has cancelled the passport of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India, while Delhi, though not officially, has extended her visa, creating strain in bilateral relations.
In addition to the passport cancellation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently sent an official note verbale to the Indian government on 23 December, requesting the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, who faces multiple criminal charges, including culpable homicide.
On Tuesday, the Interim Government, led by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, announced that the Department of Immigration and Passports had cancelled the passports of 97 Bangladeshi individuals, including the deposed Sheikh Hasina, for their alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and killings during the July-August uprising.
While Dhaka has taken these steps, an Indian news outlet reported that the Indian government had extended Sheikh Hasina’s visa, suggesting that the Modi government intends to keep her in India indefinitely. Although the Indian government has not formally commented on the visa extension, it has not issued any denial regarding the news report.
In October last year, Indian media also reported that the Indian government had issued a travel document for Sheikh Hasina, allowing her to travel abroad by obtaining a visa from another country. The Indian government did not respond to this report either.
Regarding the visa extension, Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain told journalists on Wednesday, “I have also learned about the visa extension like you from the newspaper. What can we do if India extends her visa? Tell me.” He also confirmed that India had not yet responded to the note verbale.
“Bangladesh will wait for India’s response regarding the extradition of Sheikh Hasina. Further steps will be taken once we receive a response,” he added.
On 3 January, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, in response to a journalist’s inquiry about Hasina’s extradition, did not provide an update. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “As far as former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is concerned, we don’t have an update on her plans. It is for her to take things forward.”
In response to these developments, Shahab Enam Khan, a professor in the Department of International Relations at Jahangirnagar University, told The New Nation, “I don’t think the bilateral relations will be impacted by such steps. Right now, the relations will neither develop nor deteriorate.”
He added, “India would not perceive the passport cancellation as pressure. They could issue a travel pass as well.”
