India Reviewing Bangladesh's Extradition Request for Former PM Sheikh Hasina After Death Sentence

India has confirmed it is reviewing a formal request from Bangladesh to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was recently sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal in Dhaka for crimes against humanity. New Delhi says the request is being considered through its ongoing judicial and internal legal processes.

A spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, told reporters that the government will weigh Dhaka’s plea while remaining committed to what it describes as the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including peace, democracy, inclusion and stability. He added that New Delhi would “continue to engage constructively in this regard with all stakeholders.”

“As part of ongoing judicial and internal legal processes, we remain committed to the best interest of the people of Bangladesh, including peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country,” Randhir Jaiswal said.

What Dhaka says

Bangladesh first requested Hasina’s extradition last year and, according to officials, delivered a fresh formal letter this week urging India to surrender the 78-year-old. Dhaka argues that a bilateral extradition treaty signed in 2013 imposes an obligation on India to return individuals convicted under Bangladesh law, and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs called continued sheltering of Hasina “a grave act of unfriendly behaviour.” The ministry also described it as “a travesty of justice for any other country to grant asylum to individuals convicted of crimes against humanity.”

Political context and international reaction

Hasina, who led Bangladesh for roughly 15 years, fled to India after being removed from power amid a mass uprising in August last year. The United Nations has reported that more than 1,400 people were killed during the crackdown on protesters.

Analysts and some regional observers say India is unlikely to comply with the extradition request, viewing the prosecutions as politically motivated. Sanjay Bhardwaj, a professor of South Asian studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, described the prosecutions as political vindictiveness by Bangladesh’s current rulers and suggested New Delhi is cautious about becoming entangled in what it sees as internal political disputes.

Bangladesh is scheduled to hold a general election in February, the first since the uprising, and Hasina’s party, the Awami League, has been barred from participating. The timing of the extradition request and the high-profile nature of the case add diplomatic sensitivity to New Delhi’s response.

What happens next

India has not announced a timeline for a decision. Extradition requests typically require legal review and can involve diplomatic negotiations; given the political backdrop and the treaty claims from Dhaka, any final outcome is likely to be closely watched in the region.