Politics
India has laid down two conditions regarding the return of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to her country.
India has laid down two conditions regarding the return of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to her country. According to media reports, New Delhi wants the Bangladeshi military to take responsibility for bringing her back and ensure that she receives a fair trial there. These conditions have reportedly been presented to the BNP government led by Tarique Rahman in Bangladesh. However, neither of the two reported Indian conditions has been independently verified. According to a BBC Bangla report, India is seeking a way to ease tensions between the two countries over Sheikh Hasina's return. On Friday, November 13, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that extradition was a legal matter and would be decided in accordance with the law.
India reportedly wants the Bangladeshi military to assume responsibility for bringing Sheikh Hasina back. Less than one proposed arrangement, the Bangladeshi military would send a military aircraft to New Delhi to transport her to Dhaka. Alternatively, Bangladeshi military personnel could take custody of her at an agreed location along the India-Bangladesh border. Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh and arrived in India after being ousted from power in August 2024. At that time, she also travelled to India aboard a military aircraft. India's second condition concerns Sheikh Hasina's legal protection. New Delhi reportedly wants the Bangladeshi government to allow her to appeal against the death sentence and reopen her trial in connection with the deaths of protesters during the July 2024 uprising. India wants her to be given a full opportunity to present her defence through legal proceedings.
In November 2025, a Bangladeshi court sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia. She faces serious allegations relating to the crackdown on protesters during the student-led movement. It is worth noting that Sheikh Hasina has expressed a desire to return to Bangladesh in December 2026. She has requested her passport and National Identity Card (NID) from the Bangladeshi High Commission in New Delhi. However, the Bangladeshi government has refused to issue her a passport. Khairul Kabir Khokon, joint general secretary of the BNP and a member of parliament, told ANI that Sheikh Hasina was seeking a passport in an attempt to create instability in the country. He alleged that she faced serious charges, including crimes against humanity, abduction and murder. According to him, there is now no possibility of Sheikh Hasina returning to politics in Bangladesh.
