According to India’s visa regulations, Bangladeshi nationals holding diplomatic red passports can enter India without a visa and stay for up to 45 days. Recently, the government of Bangladesh has revoked the red passports of all diplomats, including Sheikh Hasina. After stepping down as Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5. As of Saturday, August 24, she has spent 20 days in India, leaving only 25 days for her legal stay in the country.

This information was reported by the Hindustan Times on Saturday, August 24.

The report cites a source from the Bangladesh government who revealed that Sheikh Hasina had only a red diplomatic passport when she left Bangladesh and did not possess an ordinary green passport. The cancellation of her diplomatic passport has raised concerns about the possibility of her being extradited back to Bangladesh from India. Sheikh Hasina currently faces 51 cases, including 42 murder charges, and could be prosecuted for these upon her return.

The question of Sheikh Hasina’s extradition falls under the 2013 extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India, which was updated in 2016. According to the treaty, if an individual is accused of a crime that is politically motivated, extradition can be denied. However, the treaty explicitly excludes assassination cases from being considered political, meaning extradition for such charges cannot be easily refused. Additionally, extradition may be denied if the case is perceived as not being pursued in the interest of justice.