The Government of India has extended the stay of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as part of a “long-term arrangement”. The decision comes amid increasing calls from Dhaka for her extradition, following the cancellation of her passport by the Bangladesh interim government.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the extension is a special arrangement underscoring India’s tradition of hospitality, as reflected in the country’s cultural motto “Atithi Devo Bhava” (The guest is God). They highlighted that Hasina had previously lived in India for an extended period after her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was assassinated in 1975.
The latest extension comes a day after the Centre renewed Hasina’s visa, allowing her to continue residing in India. Sheikh Hasina, 77, has been living in the country since August 5 last year, when she fled Bangladesh following a massive student-led protest that toppled her Awami League’s 16-year rule.
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has since issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former Cabinet ministers, advisers, and military and civil officials, accusing them of crimes against humanity and genocide. The ICT has set February 12 as the deadline for their surrender.
The Bangladesh interim government’s Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, announced at a press briefing that the country’s Passports Department had revoked the passports of 22 individuals involved in enforced disappearances. Additionally, the passports of 75 others, including Sheikh Hasina, were canceled due to their alleged involvement in the July killings.
“The Passports Department canceled the passports of those who were directly or indirectly involved in crimes such as enforced disappearances and killings,” Majumder said. He, however, refrained from disclosing the names of the remaining individuals whose passports were revoked, according to Bangladesh’s state-run BSS news agency.
India’s decision to allow Sheikh Hasina to stay has sparked debates in diplomatic and political circles, particularly as Bangladesh’s interim government intensifies efforts to bring the former leader and her associates to justice. The situation adds a new dimension to the already complex India-Bangladesh relations, raising questions about the future of bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries.
Meanwhile, political analysts suggest that India’s move could be seen as a gesture of solidarity towards Hasina, who has been a key ally of New Delhi during her time in power. However, the extension also risks straining relations with the current Bangladeshi regime, which is keen on pursuing accountability for alleged human rights violations under Hasina’s administration.
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the trajectory of India-Bangladesh relations, especially as the February 12 deadline set by Bangladesh’s ICT approaches.
