Sheikh Hasina must return to Bangladesh to face her sentence

What the report says

Al Jazeera published an opinion piece arguing that ousted Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina should be returned from India to Bangladesh to face her sentence and further legal proceedings. The article says Hasina has continued to speak to supporters and intervene in Bangladesh’s politics from India, while Dhaka has sought her extradition. It frames the issue around accountability for violence linked to Bangladesh’s 2024 uprising and the country’s broader effort to rebuild democratic institutions.

The piece cites the UN Human Rights Office’s February 2025 estimate that up to 1,400 people may have been killed in the uprising, along with findings of systematic repression. It also refers to a November 2025 ruling by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal that found Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced her to death in absentia. Hasina has rejected the case as politically motivated, according to the article.

The author, a Bangladeshi diplomat and analyst, argues that India should not allow its territory to be used to encourage violence or political destabilization in Bangladesh. The article says Bangladesh’s government should continue diplomatic pressure, document alleged incidents, and pursue legal measures while keeping victims’ concerns central. It also notes that, in general, extradition disputes often turn on treaty terms and political considerations, though those legal details are presented here as context rather than a reported court outcome.

Overall, the piece presents Hasina’s presence in India as a test of Bangladesh-India relations and of Bangladesh’s effort to restore the rule of law after years of political turmoil.