India says Hasina’s extradition a ‘legal matter’, pushes for ‘forward-looking’ ties with Dhaka

India has once again declined to give a clear answer on Bangladesh’s demand for the extradition of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, describing it as a matter involving “legalities” while stressing that it wants a constructive relationship with Dhaka.

Speaking at a biweekly media briefing in New Delhi on Wednesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated New Delhi’s position.

“Insofar as the extradition is concerned, this is a legal matter. There are legalities involved in it,” he said.

His remarks came in response to a question on whether Bangladesh had sent India the documents related to Hasina’s trial by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which sentenced her to death, and whether those documents were needed to begin the extradition process.

Response on Tarique Rahman’s Delhi visit

Jaiswal was also asked about recent comments by Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, who said the activities of Hasina and her party activists in India were the main challenge to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s planned visit to Delhi.

The MEA spokesman did not address the point directly, instead restating India’s broader approach to Bangladesh.

“I would like to reiterate that our approach to Bangladesh is that we want to have a forward-looking, constructive and positive relationship with Bangladesh with a people-centric focus,” he said.

“That is what is driving our engagement with Bangladesh right now,” he added.

Hasina has been in India since August 5, 2024, when she resigned as prime minister and left Bangladesh for Delhi with her sister Sheikh Rehana amid the July Uprising.

Her continued stay there has since remained a major issue in Bangladesh-India relations, with Dhaka seeking her extradition.

Hasina has also often issued statements from India, including giving interviews to various foreign media.

This August, she also virtually appeared at a conference in India, with Bangladesh issuing a statement expressing its outrage on allowing the ousted prime minister such a platform.