Archive · 18 Aug 2026
India-Bangladesh Ties Strained Over Hasina Return, Extradition Row
India and Bangladesh are two neighboring countries.
Sheikh Hasina used to be the leader of Bangladesh, but now she lives in India's capital city, New Delhi.
In August, she held a press conference and said she wanted to go back to Bangladesh very soon.
Bangladesh has a new leader, Tarique Rahman, who was not happy about this.
Bangladesh says Hasina was found guilty of serious crimes and should be punished, so they want India to send her back.
Hasina says the charges against her are not fair and are about politics, not truth.
Bangladesh also wanted to arrange a visit by its new leader to India, but now that visit is in trouble.
The two countries are talking, but for now, they disagree about what should happen next.
Exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said at a 5 August press conference in New Delhi that she intends to return to Dhaka as early as December.
Hasina faces a death sentence in Bangladesh from a trial in absentia by the International Crimes Tribunal, which she dismissed as politically motivated.
Hasina also demanded that the ban on her party, the Awami League, be lifted.
Bangladesh, led by new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has repeatedly asked India to extradite Hasina.
On 16 August, Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry said talks over a possible bilateral visit by Rahman to India had been "vitiated" by Hasina's appearance.
- Who
- Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Awami League leader, in exile in New Delhi, and Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh's new Prime Minister from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
- What
- Diplomatic friction between India and Bangladesh over Hasina's announced plan to return to Dhaka and Dhaka's demand for her extradition.
- When
- Hasina's press conference was on 5 August; Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry statement came on 16 August, and Hasina targets a return as early as December.
- Where
- New Delhi, India, and Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Why
- Dhaka views Hasina's New Delhi appearance as undermining Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal and challenging the legitimacy of the Rahman government.
Dhaka Government's Position
Sheikh Hasina's Position
Extradition of Hasina
Dhaka Government's Position
Bangladesh says India must 'expeditiously act' on its extradition request and hand over Hasina along with another wanted accused.
Sheikh Hasina's Position
Hasina dismisses the charges against her as politically motivated rather than legitimate.
Hasina's return to Dhaka
Dhaka Government's Position
Dhaka says a 'propitious environment' must be created for the bilateral visit, which Hasina's press conference has 'vitiated'.
Sheikh Hasina's Position
Hasina declared she intends to return to Dhaka as early as December to rebuild her political future.
- Exiled former PM
- Sheikh Hasina, Awami League leader, in exile in New Delhi
- Current Bangladesh PM
- Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
- Hasina's declared return
- As early as December
- Press conference
- 5 August in New Delhi
- Pending sentence
- Death sentence from a trial in absentia by the International Crimes Tribunal
- Bangladesh's demand
- Extradition of Hasina plus handover of another wanted accused
- Foreign Ministry statement
- 16 August: bilateral visit process 'vitiated'; a 'propitious environment' is needed