India says Hasina not allowed to conduct political activities from its territory

India has clarified that former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has not been allowed to undertake any political activities from its territory, even as Dhaka's request for her extradition remains under examination by the Indian authorities.

The Indian government informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs that Hasina has not been provided any political platform or space to carry out political activities from Indian soil, reports Times of India.

The committee, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, noted that while India had offered Hasina refuge on humanitarian grounds, it had strictly adhered to the principle that its territory would not be used for political activities directed against another country.

The government also told the panel that Bangladesh's request for Hasina's extradition is being examined by the competent authorities in accordance with applicable laws and established procedures.

The Indian Express reports that the committee recommended the government continue its humanitarian approach while handling the matter with due sensitivity.

It also urged New Delhi to expedite the normalisation of visa processing for Bangladeshi nationals, begin discussions on renewing the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty ahead of its expiry, and continue raising the issue of minority protection in Bangladesh through diplomatic engagement.

The developments came a day after Bangladesh Law Minister M Asaduzzaman said Hasina would likely be arrested immediately if she returned to the country from India. Hasina has been living in India since August 2024 after leaving Bangladesh following the collapse of the Awami League government during the student-led July uprising.