Dhaka (TDI): Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death last week for her role in a violent crackdown on a student-led uprising.
Hasina, 78, has been in hiding in India since her government was ousted in August 2024. During her tenure, she had enjoyed strong backing from New Delhi.
Touhid Hossain, Bangladesh’s interim government official handling foreign affairs, told reporters that a letter requesting Hasina’s extradition had been sent to India. Bengali media reported that this marks the third official request since her flight.
Following her conviction for crimes against humanity, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry emphasized that India has an “obligatory responsibility” under a bilateral treaty to facilitate Hasina’s return.
Read More: Bangladesh Court Sentences Former PM Hasina to Death
India’s foreign ministry, however, only said it had “noted” the verdict and did not comment on the extradition request. It has not responded to the most recent letter.
Read More: Bangladesh Streets Stay Calm After Death Sentence for Hasina
According to the United Nations, up to 1,400 people were killed during the crackdown that became central to Hasina’s trial.
India’s previous support for Hasina has strained relations between the two nations, though ties appear to have eased slightly after Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman visited India for a regional security summit and met with his counterpart, Ajit Doval. Reports suggest Rahman has invited Doval to visit Dhaka.
