In a statement issued on Monday, Dhaka said New Delhi was obliged to do so under an extradition treaty. Former PM Hasina, who fled after violent student protests last year, has been in India since.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) took note of the statement and promised to ‘engage constructively with all stakeholders’.
“As a close neighbour, India remains commited to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country,” MEA said. “We will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end.”
The International Crimes Tribunal–Bangladesh (ICT-BD) held ousted Sheikh Hasina guilty in the case tied to alleged crimes against humanity during last year’s student-led uprising, leaving the country once again in one of its most tense days in recent past.
In a 453-page judgment passed by the court, it convicted Hasina, saying that it has modified certain charges against Hasina including murder, attempted murder, torture and other inhumane acts. A key charge included in the judgement accused Hasina of ordering the “extermination” of protesters. The international crimes court also found her guilty of making inflammatory remarks and directing the use of deadly weapons against students.Also read: Sheikh Hasina Verdict: Ousted Bangladesh PM sentenced to death for student crackdown that killed 1,400Following the verdict, Dhaka witnessed empty roads, shuttered markets and rows of security forces stationed at every major intersection. The verdict lead to a week marked by crude bomb blasts, arson attacks and mass arrests, deepening unease in a country already unsettled by political upheaval since Hasina’s ouster in August 2024.
Commenting on Sheikh Hasina verdict, Chief Advisor of the Government of Bangladesh said, “Today, the courts of Bangladesh have spoken with a clarity that resonates across the nation and beyond. The conviction and sentencing affirm a fundamental principle: no one, regardless of power, is above the law.”
“This verdict offers vital, if insufficient, justice to the thousands harmed in the uprising of July and August 2024, and to the families who still carry their loss. We stand at a moment of rebuilding democratic foundations wrecked by years of oppression,” the chief adviser said in a post on X.
Also read: ‘No one above law’: Bangladesh Chief Advisor Yunus hails court ruling as Dhaka presses India to extradite Sheikh Hasina
“The crimes at issue—the ordering of lethal force against young people and children whose only weapons were their voices—violated both our laws and the basic bond between government and citizens. These acts outraged Bangladeshis’ core values: dignity, resilience, and commitment to justice,” the post said.
Recalling the student protests in Nepal, the chief advisor said, “As many as 1,400 lives were lost. They were not statistics but students, parents, and citizens with rights. Months of testimony detailed how lethal force, even from helicopters, was used against unarmed protesters.”
The court verdict was highly appreciated by the advisor. “This verdict recognizes their suffering and confirms that our justice system will hold perpetrators accountable. Bangladesh is now rejoining global currents of accountability. The students and citizens who stood for change understood this, and many paid with their lives—giving their today for our tomorrow.”
“The path ahead requires not just legal accountability but rebuilding trust between institutions and citizens. Understanding why people risk everything for genuine representation—and creating systems worthy of that trust—is essential. Today’s verdict is a step on that journey. I have every confidence that Bangladesh will meet the challenges ahead with courage and humility. With commitment to the rule of law, human rights, and each person’s potential, justice will not merely survive in Bangladesh. It will prevail and sustain,” advisor said in a statement.
The United Nations said that while former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s sentencing for crimes against humanity marked “an important moment for victims”, she should not have been sentenced to death.
United Nations rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani raised concerns that the trial held in absentia may not have met all international due process and fair trial standards, adding: “We also regret the imposition of the death penalty, which we oppose in all circumstances.”
(With inputs from agencies)