Diplomatic Correspondent — India has officially confirmed that it is reviewing the formal request made by Bangladesh for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
New Delhi stated that the matter is currently being evaluated under its existing judicial and domestic legal frameworks, while emphasizing its commitment to maintaining constructive engagement with all relevant stakeholders in Dhaka.
The announcement was made by Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), during a routine weekly press briefing on Friday.
Legal Evaluation Underway
Responding to queries regarding the status of the high-profile extradition case, Jaiswal clarified that the procedure is bound by standard legal protocols.
“The extradition request sent by Bangladesh is being reviewed under the ongoing judicial and domestic legal processes,” the MEA spokesperson stated. “India will continue to engage constructively with all relevant parties on this matter.”
When questioned by reporters regarding a separate extradition case involving a Bangladeshi individual reportedly detained in India for the pre-election murder of a politician, Jaiswal noted he had no immediate information on that specific case.
He reiterated that any formal extradition request received by New Delhi undergoes a rigorous examination of legal parameters and judicial procedures before a decision is reached.
Strategic Shifts and Background
Diplomatic analysts in India suggest that New Delhi’s latest stance indicates a subtle yet significant calibration in its approach toward the ousted leader.
This development gains momentum as India actively seeks to foster a functional and productive working relationship with the new administration in Dhaka.
The issue was also reportedly brought to the fore during a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh’s Foreign Advisor Khalilur Rahman and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi on April 8, 2026.
Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh in August 2024 following weeks of intense, student-led mass uprisings that led to the collapse of her government.
Since then, she has been residing in India in self-imposed exile.
The formal push for her return began in December 2024, when the then-interim government of Bangladesh officially dispatched the first extradition request to New Delhi.
The urgency surrounding her repatriation escalated further after Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Sheikh Hasina and her former Home Minister, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, to death on November 17 of last year for crimes against humanity.
As New Delhi carefully navigates the legal complexities of the extradition request, the outcome remains pivotal for the future trajectory of India-Bangladesh relations.
By balancing its judicial protocols with regional diplomatic compulsions, India aims to ensure stability along its eastern border while addressing the legal demands of a transitioning Dhaka.