Bangladesh’s government on Sunday confirmed that it has formally requested India to extradite ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death earlier this week for her role in a deadly crackdown against a student-led uprising. Hasina, 78, has been in hiding in India since her autocratic rule was toppled in August 2024. During her tenure, she enjoyed significant support from New Delhi.
Touhid Hossain, Bangladesh’s interim foreign affairs official, told reporters that a letter had been sent seeking Hasina’s extradition. According to Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo, this marks the third official extradition request since Hasina fled the country. Hossain did not provide further details about the letter’s contents.
Following the court ruling convicting Hasina of crimes against humanity, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry issued a statement asserting that India has an “obligatory responsibility” under a bilateral treaty to facilitate her return. India’s foreign ministry acknowledged the verdict but did not directly comment on the extradition request and had yet to respond to the latest letter from Dhaka.
The political situation in Bangladesh remains volatile since Hasina’s removal from power. Campaigning ahead of elections expected in February 2026 has been marred by violence and unrest. The United Nations reports that up to 1,400 people were killed in crackdowns as Hasina attempted to cling to power, a key factor in the trial that led to her death sentence.
Relations between Bangladesh and India have been strained due to India’s prior support for Hasina, though recent developments suggest a slight easing of tensions. Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman visited India this week for a regional security summit, meeting his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. Reports indicate that Rahman extended an invitation to Doval for a visit to Bangladesh, signaling a possible thaw in diplomatic relations amid ongoing political turbulence.
Bangladesh’s government continues to press India for Hasina’s return while balancing regional diplomacy, highlighting both the ongoing challenges of her extradition and the broader efforts to stabilize relations between the neighboring countries in the aftermath of a politically charged regime change.
