The government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially stated that ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will not be granted permission to conduct any political activities from Indian territory. Authorities in New Delhi also confirmed that the formal extradition request transmitted by Dhaka is currently being reviewed by relevant legal institutions in accordance with established domestic laws and judicial procedures. According to reports published by The Times of India, this information was formally communicated to the parliamentary committee on external affairs, chaired by senior Congress parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor.
The parliamentary panel submitted its comprehensive report titled on the future of India-Bangladesh relations to the Lok Sabha, outlining critical diplomatic developments and regional policy frameworks. The committee`s report explicitly notes that Indian authorities are carefully evaluating the formal extradition request submitted by Bangladesh regarding the former prime minister, who was unseated during the massive student-led popular uprising. Acknowledging that Bangladesh formally submitted the extradition application following judicial proceedings and a death sentence issued in her absence, the committee confirmed that authorities have officially taken note of the legal filing.
Furthermore, the committee emphasized that sheltering Sheikh Hasina aligns with India`s civilizational values and its enduring humanitarian tradition of offering refuge to individuals facing severe existential threats or political crises. However, this humanitarian sanctuary is strictly governed by an unyielding principle that strictly prohibits utilizing Indian soil to conduct political campaigns or operations against any foreign government. The Indian government has unequivocally clarified that Hasina has not been provided with any political platform, forum, or opportunity to engage in partisan political activities from within the country`s borders, maintaining its steadfast stance against foreign political operations on domestic soil.
In addition to diplomatic and political matters, the parliamentary committee expressed deep concern regarding the significant reduction in Indian visa processing volumes for Bangladeshi nationals, warning that ongoing bottlenecks are harming public goodwill and bilateral ties. The panel strongly urged the government to swiftly normalize visa issuance operations to facilitate smoother travel and people-to-people exchanges between the neighboring nations. Furthermore, with the bilateral Ganga water sharing treaty signed in nineteen ninety-six approaching its expiration year, the committee called upon the administration to initiate immediate discussions with Dhaka without any further delay.
The parliamentary report highlighted that the treaty is scheduled to expire in twenty twenty-six, while formal bilateral negotiations regarding its renewal have yet to commence. Urging prompt action, the committee recommended that renewal talks begin swiftly in consultation with the state governments of West Bengal and Bihar, taking into account updated hydrological data and climate change projections. Political analysts note that managing these complex bilateral issues with diplomatic sensitivity remains crucial for maintaining regional stability and fostering constructive cooperation between New Delhi and Dhaka in the evolving geopolitical landscape.
