A Bangladesh court has convicted and sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death on charges of crimes against humanity. Hasina has been living in self-imposed exile in New Delhi since August 2024, following a major student-led protest movement. The interim Bangladesh government has officially requested India to extradite her, but as of mid-2025, India has not complied. There are indications that some within India are hesitant to proceed with extradition, wary of international reactions. Bangladesh maintains that the specifics of Hasina’s visa status in India do not negate the extradition demand. Reports suggest her visa has been extended, but this is described as a purely technical update, not an asylum grant. This grave development follows earlier legal setbacks for Hasina. In July 2025, she received a six-month jail sentence for contempt of court, stemming from a controversial leaked audio recording. The International Crimes Tribunal had also indicted her in June 2025 on five counts of crimes against humanity tied to the 2024 uprising, culminating in her November 17, 2025, death sentence in absentia. Speaking from Delhi, Hasina indicated a potential return to Bangladesh only after the implementation of free, fair, and inclusive elections. She asserts her current living situation in the Indian capital is adequately accommodating. A further legal complication arises from a second arrest warrant related to alleged enforced disappearances during her 15-year premiership. Bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India are sensitive, with Dhaka expressing a desire for improved ties but awaiting India’s action on the extradition. Inside Bangladesh, 2025 has been a period of significant political unrest and security operations, including the arrest of thousands under ‘Operation Devil Hunt.’ Sheikh Hasina’s remaining legal avenue in Bangladesh is to appeal her conviction to the Supreme Court, a process unfolding as Dhaka escalates its diplomatic and legal pursuit of her return, while New Delhi remains non-committal on extradition.
