India has formally acknowledged receiving Bangladesh’s request to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, saying the matter is now under examination through judicial and internal legal channels. The confirmation came Wednesday from Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who emphasized that India remains committed to supporting peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in Bangladesh amid the country’s ongoing political upheaval.
Responding to questions during a weekly media briefing, Jaiswal stated that the request was being processed as part of established legal procedures. He reiterated that New Delhi will continue to engage “constructively” with all stakeholders in Bangladesh. The request marks Dhaka’s second push in recent months to secure Hasina’s return. Earlier appeals went unanswered, but Bangladeshi officials say they now expect a response given the “changed situation.”
The extradition request follows a highly controversial death sentence handed down to Hasina earlier this month by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal. The tribunal found her guilty of crimes against humanity linked to nationwide demonstrations in July 2024. Two of her allies were also convicted, including former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who received a death sentence, and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who was given a five-year term after turning state witness.
Hasina has fiercely rejected the verdict, calling the tribunal’s proceedings illegitimate and politically motivated. In a statement issued after the ruling, she said the interim government had used the tribunal to “remove Bangladesh’s last elected prime minister” and undermine the Awami League. She accused the administration led by Dr. Mohammad Yunus of staging a “rigged” process to distract from what she described as the government’s own failures and growing public dissatisfaction.
Bangladesh’s interim authorities maintain they are pursuing justice for serious offenses. Foreign Affairs Adviser M. Touhid Hossain said Dhaka does not expect an immediate response from India but hopes to receive one soon. Law Adviser Asif Nazrul added that the government is weighing the option of approaching the International Criminal Court to pursue the return of what it considers “fugitive convicts.”
The extradition matter now places India in a delicate diplomatic position as it balances its longstanding ties with Bangladesh, concerns over political stability in the region and the legal considerations involved in assessing Dhaka’s request.
