India is examining Bangladesh’s request to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in the country since fleeing Dhaka at the peak of last year’s unrest.
The move places New Delhi at the centre of one of Bangladesh’s most charged political moments in recent years, with elections just months away.
On Wednesday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the process is underway.
"It is being examined as part of judicial and internal legal processes," he said, adding that India remains attentive to the developments unfolding in its neighbourhood.
The request comes after Hasina, 78, was sentenced to death in absentia for "crimes against humanity" linked to her government’s response to student-led protests. Her aide and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal received a similar sentence.
The interim government in Dhaka followed up with a formal letter seeking her return under the bilateral extradition treaty. Bangladesh’s foreign ministry stated that "This is also a duty for India, as per the extradition treaty existing between the two countries."
India’s response has been cautious. Jaiswal reiterated that "the request is being examined as part of ongoing judicial and internal legal processes", and underlined New Delhi’s broader position.
"We remain committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country and will continue to engage constructively in this regard with all stakeholders," he said.
Hasina, meanwhile, has rejected the verdict handed down by the special tribunal in Dhaka. "The judgement has been made by a 'rigged tribunal established and presided over by an unelected government with no democratic mandate'," she said.
Her Awami League party has already been barred from contesting the February elections.
The diplomatic exchange also touched on future engagements. When asked about Bangladesh National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman’s invitation to Ajit Doval to visit Dhaka, Jaiswal said it would be taken forward “when time comes.”
Rahman was in New Delhi last week to attend a security meet and held discussions with Doval.
