Four weeks after she left her nation during a student-led revolution, Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, has emerged as a major diplomatic headache for India.
Her departure signaled the end of her 15-year term, which was defined by oppressive rule, violations of human rights, and persecution of the opposition.
India, which is currently housing the 76-year-old leader, is in a precarious situation.
Hasina’s extradition might damage India’s reputation among its neighbors in South Asia, where Beijing and New Delhi are waging a fierce power struggle.
India’s historical links to Hasina’s government, which was viewed as more protective of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority than the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), further complicate the situation.
When he said, “India is not going to extradite her to Bangladesh,” Thomas Kean of the conflict resolution think tank International Crisis Group brought up the possible diplomatic repercussions.
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, has expressed support for Bangladesh’s interim government, which is headed by 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. During his tenure, Modi has championed the Hindu faith.
In spite of this, Modi has also insisted that the new government protect Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, who have been targeted since Hasina’s exit.
The BNP, which endured hardships during Hasina’s leadership, has recommended that India reconsider its ties with Bangladesh. A top BNP politician named Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “The people of Bangladesh want a good relationship with India, but not at the cost of their interests.”
Although the bilateral extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India may authorize Hasina’s return for trial, there is a provision that allows for refusal in the event that the offence is considered “political.”
Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, the former Indian ambassador to Bangladesh, stated that Dhaka shouldn’t push for Hasina’s return since the two nations’ relationship is too important.
Given India’s geopolitical rivalry with China, Hasina’s continued presence in the country raises sensitive questions that could have an impact on India’s power in South Asia.
