Bangladesh has formally sent all necessary documents to India to request the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and is prepared to issue a reminder when deemed necessary, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Alam confirmed on February 13.

However, the extradition request – conveyed through a note verbale in late December – remains unanswered by India. The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi has maintained a reserved stance and, despite repeated inquiries, has refrained from making any further comments beyond an initial acknowledgment of receipt.

While Bangladesh is legally entitled to seek Hasina’s return under the 2013 extradition treaty – which was amended in 2016 to expedite the process – the geopolitical and diplomatic implications remain complex. 

If India did agree to extradite Hasina, the process would unfold through a series of steps subject to both the letter of the India‑Bangladesh Extradition Treaty and the harsh realities of international diplomacy.

“While the technicalities are largely governed by the extradition treaty, the political, diplomatic, and human rights considerations would make it an incredibly complex and sensitive issue,” said Dr. Sangeeta Taak, an academic and legal scholar who serves as an assistant professor at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law in Punjab. 

The process begins with Bangladesh submitting a formal extradition request to India, Taak said. This request must comprehensively detail the charges against Hasina and be buttressed by a robust collection of supporting documents, including judicial orders, arrest warrants, and other evidentiary materials. 

Taak further underscored that “the request must also include [confirmation] that the trial shall be fair in Bangladesh and it shall........

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