Bangladesh Submits Official Extradition Request to India for Exiled Former PM Sheikh Hasina

The interim administration in Bangladesh has formally requested the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, following a death sentence issued by the International Crimes Tribunal on November 17, 2025. The tribunal convicted Hasina, aged 78, and her former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in absentia for crimes against humanity linked to the violent suppression of protests. This diplomatic overture, conveyed through an official note verbal via the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, underscores escalating tensions between the neighboring nations.

Hasina's ouster in August 2024 marked a pivotal shift in Bangladesh's political landscape. Her Awami League government collapsed amid the "July Uprising," a student-led movement that resulted in over 1,400 deaths between July 15 and August 15, according to a United Nations human rights report. Accused of deploying brutal tactics against demonstrators, Hasina fled to India shortly thereafter, where she has remained in exile. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership of the interim government on August 8, 2024, at the behest of the protesters, initiating a period of transitional governance.

This latest extradition demand revives a prior request dispatched in December 2024, which India acknowledged without further elaboration. The recent communication, sent two days prior to Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain's public confirmation, reflects the interim government's determination to pursue accountability through judicial channels. Hasina's associate, Kamal, is also believed to be in hiding within India, complicating bilateral extradition protocols established under longstanding treaties.

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In response, India's External Affairs Ministry has reiterated its commitment to regional stability, stating that New Delhi "remains dedicated to the peace, democracy, inclusion, and stability of Bangladesh" while pledging constructive engagement with all stakeholders. Hossain, speaking to state-run media, provided limited details on the note verbal but affirmed its official status, signaling a structured diplomatic process rather than unilateral action.

The request carries profound implications for India-Bangladesh relations, potentially straining ties forged during Hasina's tenure, which included robust economic and security cooperation. As Dhaka presses for justice amid domestic calls for reform, New Delhi faces a delicate balancing act: honoring extradition obligations without jeopardizing its strategic interests in the volatile South Asian theater. Observers anticipate prolonged negotiations, with the outcome likely to influence future regional dynamics.

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