India is facing an increasingly difficult diplomatic dilemma over Sheikh Hasina, as the continued presence of the ousted Bangladeshi prime minister on its soil puts pressure on relations with Dhaka, raising questions about Delhi’s international standing.
Hasina fled to India following the mass uprising in Bangladesh in August 2024 and has since remained there, despite repeated requests from successive Bangladeshi governments for her extradition.
Her announcement that she intends to return to Bangladesh in December, along with a recent move by her British law firm to seek a passport and national identity card for her, has added a new dimension to the issue.
Diplomatic observers say Delhi is under pressure from two directions.
Allowing Hasina to remain in India and conduct political activities from there has become a persistent irritant in Bangladesh-India relations. At the same time, continuing to shelter a former leader convicted of crimes against humanity and held responsible by a UN investigation for a deadly crackdown could expose India to uncomfortable questions from the international community.
A former Bangladeshi ambassador, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the UN findings have made Hasina’s presence in India particularly sensitive.
“Within a span of six weeks in July and August in 2024, about 1,400 Bangladeshis were killed and none other than the UN fact-finding mission unearthed it,” he said.
The UN report carries considerable weight because of the credibility of the investigation and the international standing of the organisation, he added.
“This is embarrassing for India to harbour a foreign political leader responsible for the killing so many of her own citizens,” the former ambassador said.
The weight of the UN findings
At the request of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, the UN Human Rights Office dispatched a fact-finding team to Bangladesh in September 2024.
The investigation, published in February 2025, found that the Awami League government, its security and intelligence services, and violent elements associated with the party had systematically engaged in serious human rights violations during the protests.
Based on deaths reported by credible sources, the report estimated that as many as 1,400 people may have been killed between July 1 and August 15, 2024, while thousands were injured. The vast majority of those killed were shot by Bangladesh’s security forces. The report estimated that 12-13% of the victims were children.
A thorny issue between Dhaka and Delhi
Hasina’s presence in India and her continued political activities have repeatedly complicated efforts to improve relations between the two neighbours.
Both the interim government and the BNP-led government have urged Indian authorities to prevent her from using Indian territory to make political statements or conduct campaigns against the government in Dhaka. Bangladesh has also repeatedly sought her extradition under the bilateral treaty.
A former diplomat said Hasina remained a particularly sensitive issue for both capitals.
“Hasina is a thorny issue between the two capitals. It is not a secret that India trusts Hasina and has always maintained a good relationship with her party, the Awami League,” he said.
The issue has previously affected high-level diplomatic engagement. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said in August that preparations for a possible visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India had been undermined by Hasina’s virtual appearance at an event in New Delhi on August 5, during which she made remarks against the BNP government.
In a written statement at the time, the foreign ministry said officials from both countries had been in contact for several weeks about the possibility of a bilateral visit, but the process had been affected by Hasina’s public appearance.
Bangladesh also urged India to expedite its response to extradition requests for Hasina and other fugitive individuals, as well as to hand over those accused of killing Osman Hadi, in accordance with the bilateral extradition treaty.
“We are awaiting their response,” the ministry spokesperson said.
Despite repeated requests, India has yet to formally agree to or reject Bangladesh’s extradition demand.
Is Delhi exploring a way out?
While India has not publicly explained how it intends to handle Hasina’s future, the recent move by Hasina and Awami League has indicated that Delhi may be exploring a possible arrangement for her return to Bangladesh.
It seems that Hasina’s announcement of a December return had been made with India’s tacit approval.
“Sending Hasina to a third country is probably the best solution for India. But it seems that no country is interested in giving shelter to Hasina,” said the spokesperson.
India may want Bangladesh to ensure Hasina’s security after her return, he added.
On Bangladesh’s extradition request, he said it remained a difficult choice for Delhi.
“If they send Hasina under the extradition treaty, then nobody will ever believe them,” he said, referring to the implications for India’s credibility among its political partners in the region.
He suggested that Delhi might instead seek an understanding with Dhaka over Hasina’s security if she returned.
India’s political and diplomatic calculations
India has traditionally maintained close relations with the Awami League and Hasina’s governments. Her departure from power and continued stay in India have therefore created a complicated situation for Delhi.
On the one hand, India may be reluctant to take action against a former leader who was a trusted partner for many years.
On the other, allowing her to continue political activities from Indian territory risks further damaging relations with Bangladesh, an important neighbour with which India has extensive security, economic and connectivity interests.
The UN findings have added an international dimension to that dilemma. The allegations and findings concerning the 2024 killings have made it increasingly difficult for India to treat Hasina’s presence as merely a bilateral political matter.
The question now is whether Delhi will continue to keep the issue unresolved, pursue a negotiated arrangement for her return, or explore another option.
The December deadline announced by Hasina may, therefore, become a test of both countries’ diplomatic calculations. But whether it leads to her return, a negotiated arrangement or another extension of the current uncertainty remains unclear.
