India has reportedly outlined two strict conditions to Bangladesh’s government regarding the potential return of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, aiming to guarantee both her personal security and access to a fair legal process. According to a report published by BBC Bangla on 12 November, New Delhi is actively engaged in discussions with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s administration, despite official silence from both capitals.
Citing unnamed officials within India’s Ministry of External Affairs, BBC Bangla stated that Hasina’s recent declaration to return to Dhaka by December was not made without New Delhi’s tacit approval. The former leader fled to India aboard a Bangladesh Air Force aircraft roughly two years ago, following a mass uprising that saw protesters storm her official residence in Dhaka. Since her departure, her presence in India has remained a delicate diplomatic issue, placing noticeable strain on bilateral relations between the two neighbours.
According to the BBC report, New Delhi’s first condition focuses on protocol and physical safety. Indian authorities insist that Hasina must be repatriated with dignity—either aboard a Bangladeshi military aircraft dispatched to New Delhi or via a secure handover at a designated land border—mirroring the manner in which she arrived in India. The second condition centres on judicial fairness. India has reportedly asked Dhaka to ensure that Hasina is permitted to appeal against her death sentence and that a fresh, transparent trial is initiated concerning the July uprising.
“We cannot knowingly push her towards the gallows,” an Indian External Affairs Ministry official was quoted as saying by BBC Bangla. “Rather, we want to ensure that she receives an opportunity for a new and fair trial.”
When pressed by journalists on Friday regarding the report, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal declined to comment, stating simply that he had nothing to say on the matter. The administration of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has likewise maintained official silence on the alleged conditions.
However, signs of movement behind the scenes have become increasingly visible. On 9 November, a lawyer representing Hasina submitted a formal application at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi requesting a passport and identity documents—her first official communication with Dhaka since entering exile. According to the Associated Press, the move signals concrete preparations for travel.
Observers cited in the BBC report suggest that Hasina’s extended stay in India has created diplomatic discomfort for New Delhi. While relocating to a third country would have eased pressure on Indian authorities, no viable alternative materialised. Consequently, Indian policymakers appear to view her return to Bangladesh as the most pragmatic course of action, particularly if her party, the Awami League, is to survive politically on the ground.
In Dhaka, the political reaction has been sharp. On Friday, KM Nazmul Haque, Assistant Press Secretary to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, wrote on Facebook that diplomatic doors had closed for Hasina worldwide. He claimed that nations including the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Finland, the United States, Belarus, Qatar, and several African states had declined to grant her asylum. Haque alleged that returning to Bangladesh was her “final resort”, though he made no mention of any conditions proposed by New Delhi.
Dhaka had initially sent a formal diplomatic note—a note verbale—to India in November 2024 seeking Hasina’s extradition, followed by subsequent reminders. New Delhi neither accepted nor rejected the request, reportedly hesitant to hand over a long-standing ally under arrest, which could send an unsettling signal to other regional partners. Analysts note that ambiguities within the existing bilateral extradition treaty allowed India to delay action while pursuing quiet negotiations over the past several months.
