International Desk

India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh has confirmed that Bangladesh has requested the extradition of its ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina for trial, but India has yet to decide on the matter.

Responding to a written question during Thursday’s session from John Brittas, member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's parliament, Singh disclosed the information.

Brittas, also managing director of Kairail TV and Kairail News, inquired whether the Bangladesh government had formally requested Hasina’s return, the reasons cited for the request, and whether India had communicated any response to Dhaka.

In his reply, Singh said Bangladesh had indeed sought Hasina’s extradition, citing alleged “crimes” committed before she left the country. However, India has yet to convey any decision to Bangladesh.

The Awami League President Hasina fled to India on Aug 5, 2024 amid mass protests and has remained there since.

While several senior leaders of her party have been arrested, most remain in hiding.

The interim government has initiated proceedings against Hasina and others at the International Crimes Tribunal, labelling the Awami League government's crackdown on student protests as "genocide".

More than 50 allegations of "genocide and crimes against humanity" between Jul 5 and Aug 5 during the student-led mass protests have been filed with the tribunal’s investigative and prosecution offices.

In one case, an arrest warrant has been issued for Hasina, while another case has led to warrants against 45 individuals, including her family members and senior Awami League leaders.

Amid ongoing trials in nearly 300 cases against Hasina, the interim government formally requested her extradition under the extradition treaty, sending a diplomatic note to the Indian government on Dec 23.

At the time, Indian media reports suggested that India was reluctant to extradite Hasina, indicating that New Delhi might take months to respond to Dhaka’s request.