Bangladesh Law Minister calls Sheikh Hasina convicted criminal

The government of Bangladesh has officially designated ousted leader Sheikh Hasina as a convicted criminal and formally requested her return from neighboring India. Speaking to reporters in Dhaka after opening a training workshop, the country's law minister, Md Asaduzzaman, outlined the official position regarding the former leader, according to local media coverage.

Mr Asaduzzaman emphasized that the administration would proceed strictly through legal channels and the bilateral extradition treaty rather than acting on emotional impulses. He clarified that while his own ministry is not directly handling the procedures, the Ministry of Home Affairs is managing the diplomatic request submitted to New Delhi. He stated that if the Indian authorities decide to transfer her, the process will be handled according to established legal frameworks.

Bangladesh officially asks India to extradite ousted leader Sheikh Hasina following her tribunal conviction.

Ms Hasina departed Bangladesh for India on August 5, 2024, amid large-scale protests that concluded her fifteen-year administration, leading to an interim government directed by Muhammad Yunus. In November 2025, the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh found her guilty in absentia of crimes against humanity linked to the unrest during July and August of 2024, handing down sentences of death on one charge and life imprisonment on another. Parliamentary elections were subsequently held in February, resulting in a government formed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by Tarique Rahman.

Bangladesh Law Ministry pursues legal extradition

Indian authorities have previously confirmed receiving the repatriation paperwork for the former prime minister, though no final determination has been announced as evaluations continue through standard diplomatic channels. Tensions previously arose when Ms Hasina addressed a virtual gathering from New Delhi, prompting strong objections from Dhaka regarding her public media engagement, whereas India clarified that the gathering was organized independently by a private entity without government participation.

Why it matters

The formal extradition request places diplomatic relations between Dhaka and New Delhi under close observation as both nations navigate a complex legal and political landscape. Resolving the status of the former leader carries significant implications for regional stability, political accountability, and the enforcement of international and bilateral agreements within South Asia.