Hopeful India will extradite Hasina, says BNP leader; sees no hurdle in ties

Senior Bangladesh ist Party (BNP) leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said his party remains hopeful that India will extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, asserting that the issue will not become a roadblock in ties between the two countries.

In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Fakhrul said any move on Hasina’s extradition would follow due legal process and international rules. “It depends. It will go as per rules, as per the international rules that are there. Bangladesh has already asked to repatriate her from India to Bangladesh. That is clear,” he said.

When asked whether the BNP, once in power, would officially seek Hasina’s extradition, Fakhrul reiterated that the matter would proceed in accordance with established legal frameworks. He acknowledged that Bangladesh and India already have an extradition treaty in place.

“Yes. If we want it, we want her to come back,” he said.

Responding to a question on whether the extradition issue could affect normalisation of ties between New Delhi and Dhaka, Fakhrul dismissed the possibility. “It will not be a roadblock between Bangladesh and India’s relationship. India has never denied that she is there. And she never said that India would not return Hasina. It will all depend on the development that takes place at that time. Time is the best healer,” he said.

When being pointed out that India has not officially clarified its position on the extradition, Fakhrul expressed optimism. “Yes. We are hopeful,” he said.

Fakhrul is one of the senior-most leaders of the BNP and a close aide of Tariq Rahman. He has led the party in Bangladesh for several decades, including during Rahman’s exile in England.

The BNP has indicated that it will pursue the matter formally if it assumes power in Bangladesh.

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