The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which secured a sweeping victory in the country’s general elections, on Friday reiterated its demand for the extradition of ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India to face trial in Bangladesh, according to a PTI report.
Senior BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed said the party fully supports ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring Hasina back under legal procedures.
"The foreign minister has already persuaded the case for her extradition, and we also support it," Ahmed said.
"We always press for her extradition according to the law. This is between the foreign ministries of the two countries. We also asked the government of India to please send her back to face trial in Bangladesh," he added.
Ahmed’s remarks came shortly after the BNP’s landslide win in Thursday’s general elections the first national vote held since the mass uprising of August 2024 that forced Hasina to flee the country.
Hasina has been living in exile in New Delhi since her removal from power. In November 2025, a special tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia for crimes against humanity linked to the violent suppression of the 2024 uprising.
While pressing for extradition, Ahmed stressed that Bangladesh seeks balanced diplomatic ties with regional partners, including India.
"Ahmed emphasised that Bangladesh seeks normal relations with all neighbours, including India, but only on equal terms.
"We need a friendly relationship based on mutual respect, equality with all the countries, including India," he said."
Ahmed also rejected criticism regarding the inclusivity of the election, particularly after the exclusion of the ruling Awami League.
"People of the country know that this is a very inclusive election. If you like to mention the exclusion of Awami League etc, people have rejected through the mass uprising in Aug 2024," Ahmed said.
The Awami League was barred from participating following a decision by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which suspended the party’s activities in 2025 amid investigations into its alleged role during the uprising.
"They are being prosecuted, and also the investigation is going on against the political party Awami League. This is under the process," Ahmed added.
(With inputs from PTI)
