Bangladesh Awaits India’s Response on Sheikh Hasina Extradition After Death Sentence

Bangladesh’s interim administration has said it is now waiting for New Delhi’s official response to its renewed request seeking the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This comes after her recent conviction and death sentence by the International Crimes Tribunal-Bangladesh (ICT-BD), a development that Dhaka believes has changed the diplomatic landscape.

Hasina, 78, was sentenced to death on November 17 for “crimes against humanity” linked to the violent anti-government crackdown during the 2024 student-led protests. She has been living in India since her ouster in August last year and has remained largely inaccessible to Bangladeshi authorities.

Dhaka Says Situation Has Shifted After Conviction

Foreign Affairs Adviser M Touhid Hossain confirmed that a detailed, formal extradition letter was dispatched last week through the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.

According to him, India did not respond to a previous note verbale issued last December, but Dhaka believes the completed judicial process and Hasina’s conviction now place the request on stronger footing.

“We have sent the letter and expect a response,” Hossain said, adding that Hasina’s legal status has shifted from a political figure to a convicted individual under the extradition treaty.

Along with Hasina, the tribunal also sentenced former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal—also believed to be in India—to death. Another accused, ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, received a five-year sentence after cooperating with investigators.

India Maintains Cautious Diplomatic Position

New Delhi has acknowledged the tribunal’s verdict but has avoided offering any commitment on extradition. The Ministry of External Affairs said it “noted” the judgment and reiterated that India remains committed to “peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in Bangladesh.”

India has so far chosen not to comment directly on whether it will consider or comply with the extradition request.

Dhaka Considers International Legal Route

Bangladesh’s interim government has also suggested it may approach the International Criminal Court (ICC) to pursue the return of Hasina and other convicted individuals. Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the administration is examining options under international law, asserting that India holds an “added responsibility” to facilitate their return.

Backdrop: Hasina’s Fall and 2024 Unrest

Hasina was ousted during the “July Uprising” of 2024, a mass student movement that forced her Awami League government to collapse. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus returned to Bangladesh shortly afterward and assumed leadership of the interim government at the request of protest leaders.

The UN human rights office earlier estimated that approximately 1,400 people were killed during the month-long unrest between mid-July and mid-August—a period that became central to the charges against Hasina.

As Dhaka presses ahead with its extradition efforts, all eyes remain on India’s next move—one that could shape the future of Bangladesh’s political landscape and bilateral ties between the two countries.