Bangladesh has formally renewed its demand for India to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death last week for her role in a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising. The government confirmed on Sunday that a fresh request had been sent to New Delhi as part of ongoing efforts to bring the ousted leader back to face justice.
Hasina, 78, has remained in hiding in India since her government was toppled in August 2024, ending years of rule that critics described as increasingly authoritarian. Throughout her tenure, she enjoyed consistent political backing from New Delhi.
Touhid Hossain, Bangladesh’s interim foreign minister, told reporters that Dhaka had issued “a letter seeking the extradition of Sheikh Hasina” on Friday. He did not specify details of the document, though Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo reported it was the third official request since Hasina fled the country.
After a Bangladesh court found Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity on Monday and sentenced her to death, the foreign ministry in Dhaka asserted that India has an “obligatory responsibility” under a bilateral treaty to assist in her return.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it had “noted” the verdict but did not comment directly on the extradition demand. New Delhi has also not yet responded to the latest diplomatic communication from Dhaka.
Bangladesh has been gripped by political instability since Hasina’s fall, with violence overshadowing preparations for national elections expected in February 2026. The United Nations estimates that as many as 1,400 people were killed in state-led crackdowns as Hasina attempted to maintain power—figures that played a central role in her conviction.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have been strained since the former leader’s ouster, due in part to India’s longstanding support for Hasina. However, tensions appeared to soften this week following a meeting between Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval during a regional security summit. Reports in Bangladeshi media suggest Rahman has extended an invitation to Doval to visit Dhaka. — AFP
