India Extends Visa of Ousted Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina Amid Extradition Demands: Sources

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): According to the sources, India has extended the visa of Sheikh Hasina, the deposed Prime Minister of Bangladesh who has been residing in India since August of last year. This decision comes amid growing demands from Bangladesh's interim government for her extradition. However, sources have denied claims that Hasina has been granted asylum, emphasizing that India does not have specific legislation for asylum. They clarified that her visa extension is purely a technical measure to facilitate her stay.

Hasina fled Dhaka on August 5, 2024, following violent student protests that resulted in over 500 deaths. According to officials, she has been living under strict security in a safehouse in Delhi since her arrival. The interim government in Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, formally requested her extradition on December 23, 2024. They allege that Hasina is involved in violent incidents and disappearances linked to the 2024 protests.

In a move further complicating the situation, Bangladesh's immigration department announced the revocation of 97 passports, including Hasina's. Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, a spokesperson for Yunus, confirmed that 22 individuals had their passports revoked for their involvement in enforced disappearances, while 75 others, including Hasina were accused in connection with the July killings. India is now facing a delicate diplomatic issue. While Hasina's prolonged stay does not pose an immediate threat to bilateral relations, the extradition request from Bangladesh has added complexity to the matter. The demand comes at a time when Bangladesh's interim government has been criticized for its treatment of opposition leaders with many viewing the cancellation of Hasina's passport and the charges against her as politically motivated actions ahead of the upcoming general elections.