India confirms receiving Bangladesh’s request to extradite Sheikh Hasina, says process under legal review

At a weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India remains committed to the “best interests of the people of Bangladesh,” emphasizing peace, democracy, inclusion, and stability as guiding principles in its engagement.

“Yes, we have received the request. “This request is being examined as part of ongoing judicial and internal legal processes. We remain committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh… and will continue to engage constructively with all stakeholders,” Jaiswal said.

Dhaka first made the extradition request in December. He followed up again this month after the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) sentenced Hasina to death on charges of crimes against humanity linked to the July 2024 demonstrations.

The tribunal also sentenced former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death, while former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who testified as a state witness, received a five-year prison term.

Hasina calls verdict 'rigged'

Responding to the judgement, Sheikh Hasina condemned the tribunal, calling it “rigged” and lacking democratic legitimacy under the unelected interim government.

“In their distasteful call for the death penalty, they reveal the murderous intent of extremist figures within the interim government,” she said, accusing it of attempting to eliminate the Awami League and distract from what she described as the failures of Dr. Mohammad Yunus’s administration.

She further alleged that the ICT’s trials were never intended to uncover the truth behind the events of July and August 2025, but rather to scapegoat political opponents.

Bangladesh seeks India’s response

Bangladesh officials said India had not responded to earlier requests, but Dhaka now expects clarity as the “situation is different.”

“We do not expect an answer within a week, but we do expect that we will get an answer,” Foreign Affairs Adviser M Touhid Hossain said.

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul added that the interim government is considering approaching the International Criminal Court in The Hague to repatriate “fugitive convicts.”

The extradition request and India’s response come at a time of deep political upheaval in Bangladesh, with concerns growing about the country’s governance, legal processes, and the future of its democratic institutions.