Dhaka Requests India's Extradition of Sheikh Hasina

Dhaka has once again requested India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death by hanging this week for her violent suppression of a student-led uprising.

At 78 years old, Hasina has been hiding in India since her autocratic regime fell in August 2024.

During her time as Prime Minister, she was supported by New Delhi.

"We have sent a letter requesting the extradition of Sheikh Hasina," said Touhid Hossain, the interim Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, to reporters on Friday.

He did not provide further details about the contents of the letter, which, according to the Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo, marks the third official extradition request since Hasina fled.

Following the court's ruling on Monday, which sentenced Hasina to death for crimes against humanity, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry stated in a press release that Delhi has a "duty" under a bilateral treaty to facilitate the return of the former leader.

The Indian Foreign Ministry acknowledged receipt of the verdict but did not provide additional comments.

They have not yet responded to Dhaka's latest letter.

Bangladesh has been experiencing political turmoil since Hasina's ouster, with violence marred the campaign for the upcoming elections scheduled for February 2026.

According to the United Nations, up to 1,400 people were killed during the crackdown by Hasina's regime as it sought to maintain power, deaths that were central to her trial.

The support that India provided to Hasina in the past has strained relations between the two neighboring countries since her downfall.

However, tensions appear to have eased somewhat when Bangladesh's National Security Adviser, Khalilur Rahman, visited India this week for a regional security summit and met with his counterpart Ajit Doval. According to Bangladeshi media, Rahman has invited Doval to visit Bangladesh.