Key Facts
Hours after a legal team representing deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought a new passport for her through a London-based legal firm, the Government of Bangladesh asserted that Hasina can return to Bangladesh through an 'acceptable prisoner exchange' programme under the India-Bangladesh extradition treaty. Hasina's passport was revoked after she escaped to India in August 2024 following an uprising that toppled her government, and she had earlier indicated she may return by December 2026 despite facing serious legal challenges. Bangladesh's Acting Foreign Minister Humayun Kabir described Hasina as a 'terrorist' who fled to India after committing crimes, saying Bangladesh will not issue her a passport and will instead seek her return via extradition; Indian sources noted that Bangladesh's refusal to issue a passport could complicate any Indian consideration of extradition, since a passport would typically be needed for such proceedings.
GK Context
The India-Bangladesh Extradition Treaty, signed in 2013 and amended in 2016, governs the surrender of fugitives between the two countries. Sheikh Hasina fled to India in August 2024 after a student-led uprising forced her resignation as Bangladesh's Prime Minister, ending her 15-year tenure. India's handling of extradition requests involves the Ministry of External Affairs and is subject to considerations including the political-offence exception (commonly invoked to refuse extradition for politically motivated charges) under extradition law and India's own diplomatic and strategic calculus regarding Bangladesh.
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