India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has said that former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India is ultimately a personal decision, though her future in the country will depend heavily on the circumstances under which she arrived. His remarks came during a wide-ranging interview with Rahul Kanwal, Editor-in-Chief and CEO of NDTV, at the HT Leadership Summit on Saturday.
Hasina, who governed Bangladesh for more than 15 years, took shelter in India in August 2024 after weeks of violent agitation spearheaded by Islamist groups. As the movement escalated and the Awami League government collapsed, she crossed into India seeking safety.
Since then, she has been living in what Indian officials describe as a “protected, discreet arrangement.” Her legal and political challenges deepened last month when Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia on charges linked to alleged crimes against humanity during the protest crackdown. Dhaka has formally requested her extradition, but Indian officials say the matter remains “under consideration.”
During the summit, Kanwal pressed Jaishankar on whether Hasina could stay in India indefinitely and whether New Delhi had taken a policy position on her long-term presence. Jaishankar avoided a categorical response but emphasized the exceptional nature of her situation.
“She came here under specific circumstances,” he said. “That circumstance is clearly a factor in what happens to her. But that is something she must decide.”
He noted that India has not imposed any timeline on her stay and underscored Hasina’s personal agency in determining her future. “Ultimately, the decision is hers,” he added, signaling that New Delhi does not intend to force a political outcome regarding her refuge.
Addressing Bangladesh’s internal political landscape, Jaishankar said India’s priority is the restoration of a credible democratic process, arguing that a return to the ballot box is essential for lasting stability.
“If the issue was the election,” he said, “then the first order of business should be to conduct a fair election.”
He stressed that India wants Bangladesh to remain stable, prosperous, and democratic, noting that bilateral ties have historically flourished when governments in Dhaka enjoyed public legitimacy.
“As a democratic country,” he said, “we want the will of the people to be reflected through a democratic process.” He added that any leadership emerging from such a process would likely maintain “a balanced and mature” relationship with New Delhi.
Bangladesh is currently under a military-backed interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, installed after the fall of the Awami League. Rights groups and international observers have raised alarms over widespread abuses, political detentions, and targeted violence against minorities, journalists, and civil servants by the Yunus regime. Institutional uncertainty has deepened international scrutiny of the country’s political trajectory.
Against this backdrop, Hasina’s presence in India carries both diplomatic weight and humanitarian implications. Indian officials appear cautious, balancing regional stability, long-standing ties with the Awami League, and the rapidly shifting dynamics in Dhaka.
For now, India seems focused on observing how Bangladesh’s internal situation evolves. Jaishankar concluded by expressing hope that “the coming months” would bring clarity and improvement, suggesting that New Delhi expects — or is quietly encouraging — political recalibration in Dhaka before determining Hasina’s long-term status.
