Delhi weighs Hasina’s return

India is considering Bangladesh’s request for the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in accordance with its established procedures, New Delhi said on Tuesday, signalling that the matter remains under consideration amid renewed diplomatic engagement between the two neighbours.

“Our position is very clear. We are looking into the case as per the established procedure we have,” Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters.

His remarks came a day after Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman raised the issue of Hasina’s extradition during his first meeting with Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi.

Hasina has been staying in India since fleeing Bangladesh in August 2024 following the fall of her government amid a mass uprising.

Bangladesh has formally sought her extradition to face legal proceedings in the country.

Jaiswal was also asked about Bangladesh’s request for India to hand over two suspects in the killing of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, who are currently in Indian custody.

Describing the issue as “a legal matter”, he said the investigation was still under way.
Hadi was shot in Dhaka on 12 December last year and died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Singapore on 18 December.

In March this year, the West Bengal Police Special Task Force arrested Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain, who were identified as the two main suspects in the killing.

Asked about the issues discussed during Tarique Rahman’s meeting with the Indian high commissioner, Jaiswal said the two sides discussed “matters of mutual interest”.

The spokesperson was also questioned about reports that Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Parag Jain had met the prime minister’s defence adviser during a visit to Dhaka.

“I have no information on that,” Jaiswal said, suggesting that the relevant ministry be approached for details.

On whether India planned to invite Tarique Rahman for a bilateral visit ahead of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September, Jaiswal said the Bangladesh prime minister had already been invited shortly after taking office in February.

He said Tarique had also recently been invited to the upcoming BRICS Summit in his capacity as chairman of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

“We will let you know if there is any update,” Jaiswal said.