In a move that has heightened diplomatic tensions between the two South Asian neighbours, India has firmly indicated it will not return former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Dhaka, even after a tribunal sentenced her to death for crimes against humanity, reports BBC.
The International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh handed down the capital punishment on Monday to Hasina and her former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, convicting them of orchestrating a brutal crackdown on student-led protests in July and August 2024 that left hundreds dead.
The verdict, delivered amid tight security in a fortified Dhaka courtroom, erupted in cheers from victims' families and protesters outside, who distributed sweets and chanted slogans proclaiming "Hasina's days are over."
Hasina, 78, who fled to India on August 5, 2024 as her 15-year rule crumbled, has been granted temporary asylum in New Delhi.
Senior Indian officials, speaking privately to the BBC, have made clear that the death sentence changes nothing in Delhi's stance. "There is no question of handing her over," one source close to the Foreign Ministry remarked, emphasising that India's position – rooted in concerns over her safety and the political nature of the charges – remains unaltered.
This comes as Bangladesh's interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, issued a fresh extradition request to India on the same day, invoking the 2013 bilateral treaty.
Law Adviser Asif Nazrul was unequivocal: "We will write to India again to extradite Sheikh Hasina. If India continues to shelter this mass murderer, it must understand that this is an act of hostility against Bangladesh and its people." Dhaka argues the treaty obliges New Delhi to comply, dismissing any notion of Hasina's stay as mere "technical visa extension."
Yet, legal experts point to loopholes in the treaty that favour India. Under Article 6, extradition can be refused if the offence is deemed political or not pursued in good faith – a provision Delhi is likely to invoke, given Hasina's history of close ties with Indian leaders and her role in curbing Islamist militancy and bolstering trade. "India views her as a valued ally," noted one analyst, adding that handing her over could invite accusations of political vendetta, especially amid reports of violence against Awami League figures in Bangladesh, including assaults on leaders like Dipu Moni and the fatal beating of Salman F. Rahman in court premises.
The extradition saga dates back to December 2024, when Dhaka first sent a "note verbale" demanding her return, just as charges were being formalised in the tribunal. India acknowledged receipt within 48 hours but has since maintained official silence, with officials from the Foreign and Home Ministries privately citing the treaty's "thousands of loopholes" to justify delays or outright rejection.
Hasina, who has denied all charges and branded the trial "biased and politically motivated" in a statement from her Indian hideout, retains the right to appeal within 60 days. Her supporters, including the Awami League, have decried the proceedings as a "farce," while pro-Hasina protests erupted in Dhaka, prompting a "shoot-at-sight" order and the deployment of armoured vehicles.
The ruling has plunged bilateral relations into fresh uncertainty. Trade between the two nations – already strained by border tensions and Hasina's ouster – could suffer further if Dhaka perceives India's sheltering as outright interference. As pressure mounts for a formal response from New Delhi, observers predict diplomatic foot-dragging at best, with Hasina's extradition remaining a distant prospect. "India may offer explanations or excuses," one diplomat quipped, "but the outcome will be the same: she stays."