Delhi weighs Hasina extradition request
India has reiterated that it is examining Bangladesh’s request to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, signalling a measured shift in tone as New Delhi manages its relationship with Dhaka’s new leadership.
Speaking at a weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the request is under consideration as part of ongoing judicial and internal legal processes. He added that India would continue to engage constructively with all stakeholders.
The issue has drawn renewed attention following a meeting in New Delhi on 8 April between Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The discussions reflected India’s broader effort to maintain a working relationship with the new government in Dhaka while addressing sensitive bilateral matters.
Sheikh Hasina has been living in self-imposed exile in India since August 2024, when she left Bangladesh amid a mass uprising that followed weeks of student-led protests. Bangladeshi authorities first sought her extradition in December of that year, and the request has since been reiterated.
In November 2025, India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that it had received the request.
“Yes, we have received the request and this request is being examined,” Randhir Jaiswal told reporters at the time. Officials have since maintained that the matter is being reviewed through established legal channels.
The extradition effort intensified after a Bangladeshi court sentenced Hasina to death over crimes against humanity linked to the 2024 crackdown on protests. According to the United Nations, the unrest and subsequent response resulted in more than 1,400 deaths.
Hasina has challenged the ruling, stating in a recent legal communication that the sentence is “legally void” and calling for proceedings that meet international standards of a fair trial.
Dhaka has also extended its request to include former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who was convicted alongside Hasina by the International Crimes Tribunal in November last year.
Meanwhile, India continues to monitor political developments in Bangladesh, including recent legislative moves to formalise a ban on the Awami League. Responding to a question on the matter, Jaiswal said, “We follow all developments very closely.”
India has reiterated its intention to strengthen bilateral ties through established mechanisms, with further official-level engagements expected in the coming period.
