National, July 18: India on Friday confirmed that Bangladesh’s request for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is under examination, with the government assessing the legal and judicial procedures involved before taking a decision.
Addressing a press briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the request had been received and was being processed in accordance with applicable legal provisions.
“We have received a request for extradition. This request, as we have said earlier as well, is under examination, and the request is being taken into consideration, given the legalities that are involved and the judicial processes that are involved,” Jaiswal said.
Hasina has been staying in New Delhi since August 2024 after stepping down as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister following widespread student-led protests that resulted in the collapse of her Awami League government. Bangladesh’s interim administration formally sought her extradition in November 2025 and reiterated the request during the visit of Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman to India in April this year. The request also includes former Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.
The MEA’s statement came days after Hasina said she intended to return to Bangladesh voluntarily around December despite the possibility of being arrested. In an interview with Reuters, the 78-year-old former Prime Minister said she would surrender before the courts upon her return.
“They may arrest me on my return, they may even kill me. Still, I have to go,” Hasina said, adding that she had not contacted the authorities in Dhaka regarding her proposed return. She also expressed concern over the situation of Awami League leaders and workers, alleging that they were facing severe repression.
The extradition request followed a verdict by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal, which sentenced Hasina to death after convicting her of crimes against humanity in connection with the 2024 crackdown on student protests. The tribunal held her responsible for ordering or failing to prevent deaths during the unrest that led to the fall of her government.
In the same judgment, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also sentenced to death, while former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was awarded a five-year prison term. The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of properties belonging to Hasina and Kamal.
India has not specified any timeline for deciding on the extradition request, stating that the matter will be handled in accordance with the relevant legal and judicial processes.
