Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has again pressed India to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in fresh talks with India’s newly arrived high commissioner, Dinesh Trivedi, as Dhaka and New Delhi navigate a difficult reset in bilateral relations.
According to reporting on the meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh raised the extradition issue during Trivedi’s first engagement with Rahman since the new government took office. The démarche comes after a period of strained ties during Bangladesh’s earlier interim period, when disputes included Hasina’s extradition, border questions, and concerns over Bangladesh’s foreign policy tilt toward China.
The meeting on Monday was described by Bangladesh’s Prime Minister’s Office as covering “a range of important bilateral issues.” Rahman’s office said the discussions included areas of shared interest and the steps needed to move ties forward. The setting for the request underscores how the extradition question remains a central point of friction in India-Bangladesh diplomacy.
Bangladesh’s position is clear that Hasina, who has been living in India since fleeing Bangladesh after the collapse of her government in August 2024, would have to return to face the law if she comes back. This stance was reiterated as the Indian envoy met Rahman, with Dhaka maintaining that the former premier must surrender and undergo legal proceedings on charges pursued in Bangladesh.
While Bangladesh renewed its request, India has indicated it is reviewing the matter through formal legal and judicial channels. Reuters reported that New Delhi said it is examining Bangladesh’s extradition request in accordance with established procedures, adding that the Indian High Commission had conveyed India’s commitment to working in a “positive, constructive and forward-looking manner” toward cooperation with Bangladesh.
At the same time, the Bangladesh foreign ministry signaled sharp dissatisfaction with recent events connected to Hasina’s activities from India. Reuters noted that Dhaka criticized the decision to allow Hasina to hold an online media event, describing it as deeply hurtful and an affront that revived scrutiny around her conduct and influence. The foreign ministry framed the situation as requiring a “conducive environment” for any improvement in relations, while warning against steps that could further damage trust.
Rahman, in his remarks following the meeting, emphasized the need for such a conducive environment to advance bilateral relations. The Bangladesh prime minister’s office said he stressed constructive cooperation and the importance of enabling more stable engagement between the two countries.
Bangladesh’s pressure on extradition is also linked to broader concerns about judiciary-related respect and political accountability. Reporting in The Times of India indicated that Rahman advised India to avoid actions that could hurt bilateral ties, a caution that was widely interpreted as reference to Hasina’s defiant virtual news conference in Delhi. The Times of India account quoted Bangladesh’s foreign minister Khalilur Rahman, who stated that Hasina’s actions had shown disrespect to the judiciary, and that India had permitted the event to occur.
In the same reporting, Bangladesh’s foreign minister also urged India to hand over the suspected killers of Osman Hadi as early as possible. This adds another dimension beyond extradition: Dhaka is seeking cooperation related to high-profile criminal cases tied to cross-border justice processes. The Times of India report noted that in March, West Bengal Police arrested two Bangladeshis accused of Hadi’s murder in the Indian town of Bongaon, demonstrating that security and criminal justice links remain politically salient.
India’s engagement with Dhaka appears to be part of a broader attempt to reset ties. The Rediff report on the meeting said the diplomacy unfolded against the backdrop of earlier strain after Bangladesh’s ruling party changed in February. It also indicated that earlier Indian efforts included consultations among senior officials and that the current dialogue was intended to address multiple issues, not only extradition.
After meeting Rahman, India’s high commissioner Trivedi also held a courtesy call on Bangladesh’s home minister, Salahuddin Ahmed. The Indian mission said the discussions focused on furthering bilateral relations and areas of common interest, including security cooperation. This suggests that while the extradition dispute remains unresolved, both sides are looking at mechanisms for practical collaboration in areas where interests overlap, such as security.
Beyond the immediate meeting, India has continued signaling that it will not treat the extradition request as an automatic or purely political demand. Rediff later reported that India was considering Bangladesh’s extradition plea for Sheikh Hasina, reiterating that New Delhi is examining the request through established processes. The reporting also highlighted that Hasina faces a death penalty conviction for “crimes against humanity” in Bangladesh, a detail that explains the legal and judicial sensitivity in any decision about transfer.
International and regional diplomatic context is also present. Rediff said India’s current review of the request unfolds amid developments such as invitations for Rahman for a bilateral visit and participation in upcoming regional meetings including the BRICS Summit. Such events may shape the timing and tone of exchanges between the two governments, even as unresolved legal questions continue to weigh heavily.
For now, Bangladesh’s renewed request places immediate pressure on India to respond in a manner that Dhaka regards as procedurally serious and politically fair. Whether India’s review leads to tangible steps toward extradition—or whether the parties instead focus on confidence-building measures through security cooperation—will likely define the next phase of the bilateral reset.
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