New Tension Between India And Bangladesh, Dhaka Steps Up Pressure For Sheikh Hasina’s Return

Dhaka: The discussion between India and Bangladesh has once again intensified regarding the extradition of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The interim government of Bangladesh hopes that India will speed up the process of sending back the former prime minister. At the same time, India says that the extradition request is undergoing investigation as per the prescribed legal procedure.

Have preparations to bring Sheikh Hasina back from India intensified?

Bangladesh Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam on Sunday expressed hope that India will take forward the process of Sheikh Hasina's extradition. She said that in this matter, not only the legal process but also political will is important. Earlier, Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi had also said that no fixed deadline can be set for Sheikh Hasina's return.

Can Hasina be brought back under the extradition treaty between the two countries?

When asked during a media briefing about the possibility of Sheikh Hasina being brought back under the extradition treaty in force between the two countries, the Bangladeshi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said that she could be brought back under the treaty. However, she also admitted that some legal questions are being raised in this matter and the related process is still going on.

What has India said on Sheikh Hasina's extradition?

India has consistently clarified that the extradition request sent by Bangladesh is being investigated as per the prescribed legal procedure. No definite date has yet been given by India to send back Sheikh Hasina. For this reason, this matter remains under constant discussion between the two countries.

Why has Sheikh Hasina living in India since August 2024?

Sheikh Hasina, 79, left Bangladesh on August 5, 2024 and has been living in India since then. After her removal from power, the political situation in Bangladesh changed rapidly. She was later tried before a special tribunal and sentenced to death in a case related to action during a demonstration. However, Sheikh Hasina and her supporters have been calling this action a political vendetta.

What has Bangladesh demanded from India and where has the matter reached now?

The former interim government of Bangladesh had sent a diplomatic note to India demanding the extradition of Sheikh Hasina. India has said that the request is being investigated as per the prescribed procedure. Tariq Rahman's BNP government, which came to power after the February 12 elections, also took the issue forward. In August, during his meeting with Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi, Rehman had talked about expediting the process so that a favourable environment could be created for relations between the two countries.

Sheikh Hasina has said that she will voluntarily return to Bangladesh by December to face the legal process. In such a situation, his extradition has now become not only a legal matter but also an important issue for India-Bangladesh relations.