For families who lost relatives in Bangladesh’s July-August 2024 uprising, Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India is far more than just a question of political refuge.
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presence → lose → refuge
Some are caring for injured relatives, while others have been left devastated by their losses.
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others → care → losses
Parents have rooms that are now empty.
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that → have → rooms
When the ousted prime minister speaks to Bangladeshis from India, the question arises: Why should those who paid the price for democracy have to watch the very person they hold responsible for their suffering continue to intervene in Bangladesh’s politics from abroad?
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they → oust → politics
In February 2025, the UN Human Rights Office estimated that as many as 1,400 people may have been killed during the 2024 uprising, with thousands more injured.
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thousands → estimate → uprising
It identified systematic repression by the former government, the security forces and violent elements of the Awami League, and concluded that there was an official policy of violent suppression that warranted further investigation into potential crimes against humanity.
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that → identify → humanity
Subsequent domestic proceedings dealt with individual responsibility.
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proceedings → deal → responsibility
In November 2025, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal found Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity, including instigating and abetting the atrocities and ordering lethal force against protesters.
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Hasina → find → protesters
It also held her responsible under the doctrine of superior command responsibility and sentenced her to death in absentia.
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her → hold → absentia
She has called the trial politically motivated.
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She → call → trial
Her denial in no way diminishes the victims’ right to justice.
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denial → diminish → justice
Bangladesh has requested her extradition from India, but she remains there.
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she → request → India
Under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the government is attempting to repair a damaged economy and to re-establish a political culture that has been badly scarred by years of autocratic rule.
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that → attempt → rule
Yet Hasina’s supporters abroad continue to promote the prospect of her political comeback on social media.
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supporters → continue → media
Such messages fuel uncertainty about the future of Bangladesh’s democratic transition, particularly for families still waiting for justice.
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messages → fuel → justice
The elected government and all political organisations committed to that transition have a responsibility to defend it.
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government → elect → it
They should respond to any attempts to destabilise it with factual information and legal action, keeping victims at the heart of their policies.
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They → respond → policies
But Bangladesh cannot address these concerns alone while Hasina remains in India.
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Hasina → address → India
In an interview with Prothom Alo, C Christine Fair, a political scientist at Georgetown University, said that Hasina had been useful to India and that New Delhi would not hand her over.
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Delhi → say → her
But India’s decision to shelter Hasina is one issue; allowing her to continue intervening in Bangladesh’s politics from Indian territory is another.
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her → shelter → territory
In January 2026, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry accused Hasina of inciting violence to disrupt the forthcoming elections after she addressed a public event in New Delhi.
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she → accuse → Delhi
Fair questioned why New Delhi appeared unwilling to restrain Hasina when it had previously persuaded foreign political figures, including the Dalai Lama and Aung San Suu Kyi, to exercise restraint.
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it → question → restraint
She suggested that India’s domestic politics explained the difference.
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politics → suggest → difference
From Bangladesh’s perspective, this raises questions about how much weight New Delhi gives to its neighbour’s concerns when they conflict with its own political calculations.
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they → raise → calculations
Whatever political considerations shape New Delhi’s position, Bangladesh’s extradition request must be assessed on its legal merits.
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request → shape → merits
A person’s political status does not automatically prevent extradition.
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status → prevent → extradition
Article 6 of the India-Bangladesh extradition treaty specifically excludes murder, incitement to murder and a number of related offences from the political offence exception.
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Article → exclude → exception
Other grounds and safeguards for refusal remain applicable.
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grounds → remain → refusal
Through sustained diplomatic engagement, the government of Bangladesh should make clear that Dhaka wants constructive relations with India on the basis of sovereign equality and expects a serious response to its extradition request.
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wants → make → request
It should also ask New Delhi to ensure that its territory is not used to incite violence in Bangladesh or threaten its people.
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territory → ask → people
Specific incidents should be documented, and peaceful political expression should be clearly distinguished from calls for violence.
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expression → document → violence
If India is serious about resetting its relationship with Bangladesh, it has to respect the democratic mandate of that country and acknowledge the suffering of its people.
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it → reset → people
Protecting a former dictator from accountability will only serve to increase mistrust.
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Protecting → protect → mistrust
Sheikh Hasina must return to Bangladesh to answer in person for the killings and abuses committed under her government and to face any further lawful proceedings.
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Hasina → return → proceedings
Her return must deliver justice to the victims and help restore the rule of law that Bangladesh is so keen to re-establish.
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Bangladesh → deliver → law
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
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views → express → stance
The Aporia
