Bangladesh Says 'Situation Different Now,' Expects India's Response on Hasina Extradition Request

PTI, DHAKA, NOV 26, 2025: Bangladesh on Wednesday said that India had given "no reply" to its earlier request seeking the extradition of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. However, Dhaka now expects a response from New Delhi, as the "situation is different now" with the judicial process completed and Hasina convicted.

The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, had sent an "official letter" to India last week seeking the extradition of 78-year-old Hasina after a special tribunal sentenced her to death on November 17 for committing "crimes against humanity."

Foreign Affairs Adviser M. Touhid Hossain told reporters that Bangladesh is awaiting India's reply to the latest request for Hasina's extradition. "I do not expect that they (India) will answer within a week of Dhaka's request, but we expect we will get an answer," he said.

Hossain further clarified that Bangladesh had previously requested India's assistance in returning Hasina, but received "no reply." However, he emphasized that "the situation is different now" because the judicial process has been completed, and Hasina has been convicted.

The formal extradition request was made through the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi following the verdict delivered by the International Crimes Tribunal-Bangladesh (ICT-BD). Hossain added that the request was made under the existing extradition treaty between the two countries.

In December of the previous year, Bangladesh had sent a note verbale to India seeking Hasina's extradition. While India acknowledged receipt of the note, it did not provide any further comment. Hossain, a former diplomat, said that while Bangladesh is not ruling out a response from India, it does not expect one within seven days.

Along with Hasina, the ICT-BD had also sentenced the then Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal after a trial held in absentia. Hasina is currently in India, while Kamal is also believed to be hiding in the country. The third accused, former police official Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, who appeared as an approver, was sentenced to five years in prison.

On November 20, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the interim government is also considering moving the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to bring back the "fugitive convicts." Reiterating this stance three days later, he said, "We believe India has an added responsibility to return them."

Following the recent ICT-BD judgment, India had said it "noted" the verdict concerning the former prime minister. "As a close neighbour, India remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion, and stability in that country. We will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end," the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Hasina's Awami League government was toppled in a student-led violent protest, known as the 'July Uprising,' on August 5 of the previous year. Three days later, Nobel Laureate Yunus flew from Paris at the call of the protesting students to assume the charge of the interim government as its chief adviser.

Hasina and the two others were accused of adopting brutal measures to suppress the protestors, while a UN rights office report claimed that approximately 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15 of the previous year.