Bangladesh has formally asked India to return former prime minister Sheikh Hasina after the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan to death in absentia for crimes against humanity. A diplomatic note was sent to New Delhi five days after the verdict.

Hasina took shelter in India immediately after her government was ousted on 5 August 2024. Since then, she has remained active from there—issuing statements and giving interviews—which has irritated Bangladesh’s interim authorities.

Although Dhaka has repeatedly raised the issue of her extradition for more than a year, India has so far avoided giving any substantive response. The only reaction to the latest verdict was that New Delhi had “taken note” of it and wished to see peace, democracy, inclusion, and stability in Bangladesh.

Even if India were to respond favorably, the process would be long and complicated. Indian courts would hold full hearings, and Hasina would have the opportunity to challenge the allegations.

Experts say India is unlikely to move before an elected government takes office in Bangladesh next year. They also note that India sees the current interim administration as temporary and limited in mandate.

For many Bangladeshis who suffered during Hasina’s long rule or lost loved ones in the 2024 unrest, the tribunal’s ruling was a symbolic step toward justice. But as long as she remains in India, the sentence cannot be carried out—making her return a major political demand.

India and Bangladesh signed an extradition treaty in 2013, and Dhaka insists that the agreement obligates cooperation. But political support in India for sending Hasina back is extremely thin—and has shrunk further since the death sentence. Most Indian parties oppose returning her.

Hasina’s personal and political ties with India span decades, from her family’s historic role in 1971 to the years she lived in exile in India after 1975. During her time in power, she worked closely with New Delhi on security and counter-extremism, which India highly valued. For India, handing over a long-time ally who now faces execution would send a damaging signal to other regional partners.

The treaty also includes a clause allowing either country to refuse extradition if the charges appear politically motivated. India could use this to argue that the proceedings were unfair or unconstitutional.

Given India’s strategic and security interests in Bangladesh, analysts expect New Delhi to postpone any clear position until after Bangladesh’s upcoming election. Meanwhile, political parties in Bangladesh are likely to exploit anti-India sentiment during their campaigns, especially around the question of Hasina’s protection in India.

Relations between the two countries have already been strained since Hasina’s fall from power. This dispute could deepenthat tension further.