Bangladesh has conveyed its expectation that India will extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the "earliest" opportunity, following her conviction in absentia for crimes against humanity. Despite this, Bangladesh has stressed that this "issue alone" will not impede the strong bilateral ties between Dhaka and New Delhi.
The interim government's Foreign Affairs Adviser, Mohammad Touhid Hossain, addressed diplomatic reporters in Dhaka, stating that Bangladesh's bilateral relations with India would not be "stuck on one issue alone". He expressed hope for improved working relations with India, based on mutual interests.
Sheikh Hasina, 78, has been residing in India since August 2024, after being ousted from power during student-led protests. These protests, known as the "July Uprising," forced her government to step down. On November 17, 2025, a special tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for "crimes against humanity," related to her government's crackdown on the aforementioned protests.
Following the verdict, Bangladesh's foreign office sent an official letter to India, formally requesting Hasina's extradition under the existing extradition treaty between the two countries. This is not the first extradition request; Bangladesh had previously sent a note verbale in December 2024, to which India acknowledged receipt without further comment. This recent request is considered the third formal extradition request since Hasina fled to India. Dhaka has also requested the return of former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who received the death sentence in the same case and is believed to be in hiding in India.
The extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh was signed in January 2013. After Monday's verdict, Bangladesh's foreign ministry reminded India that the treaty obligates New Delhi to return convicted individuals. The ministry also warned that providing shelter to those found guilty of crimes against humanity would be "a grave act of unfriendly conduct" and a "travesty of justice".
India has acknowledged the verdict against Sheikh Hasina and has stated its commitment to stability in Bangladesh. An Indian government official stated that New Delhi is examining the extradition request and considering its legal implications.
Ties between the two South Asian neighbors have become strained since Hasina was ousted and took refuge across the border. Despite these challenges, both countries have expressed a desire to maintain constructive relations. India's foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, visited Dhaka in December 2024 and reiterated India's commitment to this goal.
