Following its decisive victory in Bangladesh’s general election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has renewed calls for the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from India so that she can face trial in Bangladesh, while simultaneously signalling its intention to maintain stable diplomatic relations with New Delhi.
Senior BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed said the party would continue pursuing Hasina’s return through formal legal and diplomatic mechanisms. According to him, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry has already initiated the process, and the BNP fully supports efforts to seek her extradition in accordance with international law. He described the matter as one to be handled institutionally between the foreign ministries of both countries, urging India to cooperate in sending Hasina back to face judicial proceedings.
Sheikh Hasina has been residing in New Delhi since August 2024, after a mass uprising forced her resignation and departure from Bangladesh. In November 2025, a special tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced her to death in absentia over charges related to crimes against humanity connected to the government’s crackdown during the unrest that year.
Despite pressing for extradition, BNP leaders emphasised that Dhaka aims to sustain constructive ties with India. Ahmed stated that Bangladesh seeks friendly relations grounded in mutual respect, equality, and balanced engagement with all partners, including India, indicating that the extradition demand should not be viewed as a broader diplomatic confrontation.
The BNP’s renewed stance comes shortly after its landslide victory in the first parliamentary election held since the political upheaval of 2024. The Awami League, led by Hasina, was barred from contesting after the interim administration headed by Muhammad Yunus suspended the party’s activities in 2025 amid ongoing investigations into its alleged role during the protests and violence.
Addressing criticism over the Awami League’s exclusion from the electoral process, Ahmed argued that public sentiment during the uprising had already demonstrated rejection of the party, adding that legal proceedings against its leadership were continuing under established judicial procedures.
The development is expected to introduce a sensitive diplomatic dimension to India-Bangladesh relations as the incoming BNP-led government begins formal engagement with New Delhi while simultaneously pursuing legal accountability against the former prime minister.
