Extradition of Sheikh Hasina is a matter of legal process: Jaiswal

Bangla Press Desk: India has stated that Dhaka’s request for the extradition of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a legal and judicial matter. Furthermore, India has suggested that inquiries regarding her passport and National Identity (NID) card applications should be directed to the Bangladesh High Commission.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, made these remarks during a weekly press briefing on Tuesday, while responding to questions from journalists concerning the potential extradition of Sheikh Hasina and her applications for a passport and national identity card.

At the beginning of the briefing, a journalist asked Jaiswal about media reports suggesting that Sheikh Hasina had applied for a passport and a national identity card, but that the applications had been rejected by Bangladesh. The journalist inquired whether New Delhi played any role in this, whether India intended to raise the matter with Dhaka, and if such issues might be discussed during upcoming bilateral meetings on consular services.

In response, Jaiswal stated, "The question you have raised should ideally be directed to the Bangladesh High Commission. They would be in the best position to inform you about the actual status of this issue."

When asked about the latest discussions between New Delhi and Dhaka regarding the extradition request sent by Bangladesh, Jaiswal reiterated, "As I mentioned earlier, the request for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is entirely a legal and judicial process. The matter will be handled accordingly."

The briefing also touched upon the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty. When asked about the treaty, which is set to expire on December 12, Jaiswal remarked, "I have already addressed this in a previous press briefing; I have no new information to share at this moment."

Regarding a potential visit to India by Tarique Rahman (referred to in the query as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh), Jaiswal stated, "There is no information to confirm at this time."

Additionally, Jaiswal emphasized the need to take action against Chinese bloggers who use Bangladeshi territory to malign India. He described the practice of filming content in Dhaka—such as creating short videos—and falsely presenting it as having been shot in India, as both "reprehensible and unfortunate." What is Sheikh Hasina’s plan?
Analysts view Sheikh Hasina’s application for a new passport not as a sign of an imminent return to the country, but rather as a strategy to maintain control over the Awami League and remain politically relevant. They suggest that by announcing a potential return, she aims to keep party members active while retaining her own leadership.

An analysis by Al Jazeera notes that Hasina’s passport application does not necessarily signal plans for an immediate return. Instead, it may be a tactic to sustain control over the Awami League—a party whose activities have been banned—and to stay politically relevant.

According to Zillur Rahman, president of the Centre for Governance Studies, Sheikh Hasina is well aware of the consequences she might face. Nevertheless, she wants the Awami League’s rank and file to remain active and for the party’s leadership to stay firmly in her hands.

Former US diplomat John F. Danilovich believes that Sheikh Hasina’s announcement about returning home is a strategy to energize her supporters and maintain political relevance.
Faiz Sobhan of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute points out that if she were to return, Sheikh Hasina would likely face the death penalty or a long prison sentence.

An obstacle to normalizing bilateral relations
Sheikh Hasina has been in India since August 5, 2024. Her presence there has become a major point of friction in bilateral relations between Dhaka and New Delhi. Bangladesh has requested her extradition on several occasions. Analysts believe it is highly unlikely that India would assist in facilitating Sheikh Hasina’s return to Bangladeshi politics.
John F. Danilovich suggests that her presence in India has become a hurdle in efforts to normalize relations between the two nations.

Unlikely prospect of a compromise with the BNP
Analysts also see little chance of a compromise between Sheikh Hasina and the BNP. According to Faiz Sobhan, BNP members endured long periods of imprisonment and harassment during Hasina’s tenure; consequently, any form of compromise with her could prove politically damaging for the BNP.

Sheikh Hasina fled to India after being ousted from power during the mass uprising of 2024. Last year, she was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity committed during that uprising. The Bangladesh government has already rejected his passport application. According to the government, if he is to return to the country, he must be brought back from India through extradition.