India unlikely to respond to call on Hasina extradition: Hindustan Times
India is unlikely to act on Bangladesh's request to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Hindustan Times reported today, citing sources familiar with the situation. The report noted that key procedural requirements have not been fulfilled by Dhaka to advance such a request.
The extradition plea was submitted as a note verbale—an informal diplomatic communication—by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi to India's Ministry of External Affairs on December 23. This development occurred against the backdrop of heightened tensions in bilateral relations following the establishment of Bangladesh's interim government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
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A note verbale, considered one of the most basic forms of diplomatic communication, is generally not used for sensitive matters like extradition requests, Hindustan Times reported, quoting sources on condition of anonymity.
Hasina, 77, has been residing in India since leaving Bangladesh amidst nationwide protests led by student groups. She fled Dhaka on August 5. Yunus and other interim government leaders have referred to her presence in India and her statements while in exile as contributing to tensions in India-Bangladesh relations.
Some observers in New Delhi view the extradition request as largely symbolic—a measure by Bangladesh's interim government to address domestic political pressures, particularly from student groups pushing for Hasina's return, the Hindustan Times reported, citing sources.
"Extradition is not some simple process and both parties making and receiving such a request have certain obligations. The person who is the subject of an extradition request also has options. Those options are yet to be exercised," the Hindustan Times quoted one source as saying.
The person sought for extradition retains the right to challenge the request in court, a step that has not yet been pursued.
Moreover, the India-Bangladesh extradition treaty of 2013 includes clauses under which an extradition request can be denied. Article 6, or the "Political Offence Exception" allows refusal if the offense is deemed political in nature, the newspaper stated.
Article 8, which outlines additional grounds for rejecting extradition, specifies that an individual cannot be extradited if the accusation lacks good faith or fails to serve the interests of justice, the report added.
The Hindustan Times also noted that during Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's visit to Dhaka last month, discussions focused on charting a constructive path forward in bilateral relations.
An official statement released after Misri's day-long visit on December 9 emphasised India's "willingness to build a positive and constructive relationship" with Bangladesh, built on mutual trust and respect for each other's concerns.
While reiterating India's support for a democratic, stable, and inclusive Bangladesh, Misri stressed that bilateral cooperation in areas like connectivity, trade, and energy is "geared towards the benefit of the people of Bangladesh".
Although India has ongoing concerns about the treatment of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, there are indications that Dhaka's leadership may be adopting a more conciliatory stance towards New Delhi, reports Hindustan Times.
The Hindustan Times also observed that neither Hasina's presence in India nor Bangladesh's extradition request was mentioned in a detailed interview with Bangladesh Army Chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman published by Prothom Alo on Wednesday.
Zaman acknowledged Bangladesh's dependence on India as an "important neighbour" and will not do anything that goes against New Delhi's strategic interests. India has an interest in Bangladesh's stability and the two sides share a give-and-take relationship that "must be based on fairness", said The Hindustan Times.
Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain also highlighted the importance of balancing the extradition request with other pressing issues on Wednesday.
The reciprocal release of each country's fishermen on January 5 is seen as a step towards improving India-Bangladesh relations, the report concluded.
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