India is unlikely to act on Bangladesh’s request to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, citing the absence of key formalities required to move the issue forward, according to a report by The Hindustan Times.
The report said that the request was reportedly sent as a note verbale, an unsigned diplomatic correspondence, by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi to India’s Ministry of External Affairs on 23 December. However, experts familiar with the matter noted that such correspondence is among the lowest forms of diplomatic communication and is rarely used for sensitive issues like extradition.
The interim government has pointed to Hasina’s comments in exile as a source of ongoing bilateral tensions.
Observers in New Delhi have interpreted the extradition demand as an effort by Bangladesh’s interim administration to address domestic pressure, particularly from influential student groups demanding Hasina’s return. According to sources cited in the Hindustan Times, “Extradition is a complex process requiring obligations from both the requesting and receiving parties, alongside legal options for the individual concerned. These options remain unexercised in this case.”
Bangladesh-India extradition treaties also include provisions that allow requests to be refused on various grounds. Article 6 of the 2013 treaty permits refusal for politically motivated offences, while Article 8 specifies that accusations not made in “good faith” can also be rejected.
India’s External Affairs Ministry confirmed receiving the note verbale but declined to comment further. Meanwhile, during his 9 December visit to Dhaka, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasised India’s commitment to fostering mutual trust and cooperation with Bangladesh in areas like connectivity, trade, and energy, which aim to benefit the people of both countries.
