Delhi contains fallout of Hasina’s continued presence in India

India and Bangladesh intensify diplomatic, intelligence and defence contacts as Hasina’s presence remains a key bilateral sticking point.

India and Bangladesh have moved swiftly since 5 August to contain possible damage to bilateral ties over the continued presence of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India, with diplomatic, intelligence and defence channels being activated even as her presence remains the single biggest thorn in the relationship between the two countries. The immediate trigger was Hasina’s virtual interaction with journalists and supporters from New Delhi on 5 August, held on the second anniversary of her ouster from power. The event had already become a source of friction between the two countries before it took place. Dhaka had sought New Delhi’s intervention over the proposed interaction and asked India to prevent Hasina from using Indian territory for political activity. India, however, made its position clear a day before the event.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the interaction was being organised by a private media entity, that the Indian government had “no involvement whatsoever” in it and that New Delhi did not endorse any views expressed at the forum. The interaction nevertheless went ahead, with Hasina speaking virtually from New Delhi about the political situation in Bangladesh and her plans to return to the country. Dhaka reacted strongly, viewing her continued political activity from India as a challenge to the current government and to efforts to stabilise bilateral relations. The episode also came at a sensitive point in discussions over a possible visit to India by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Hasina’s continued presence in India has since emerged as the central unresolved issue between the two governments.

Dhaka wants her extradited to Bangladesh to face the cases against her, while New Delhi has to contend with the circumstances in which she arrived in India. She fled Bangladesh on 5 August 2024 after violent protests brought down her government, and India subsequently provided her refuge. The question of what happens to Hasina therefore involves not merely an extradition request but also India’s responsibility for her safety and well-being while she remains in the country. Within days, however, both sides moved to prevent the dispute over Hasina from becoming a wider rupture. On 10 August, R&AW chief Parag Jain travelled to Dhaka with a senior Indian security delegation for discussions with senior Bangladeshi officials. The visit coincided with Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi’s first meeting with Tarique Rahman.

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The Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office said Rahman raised the issue of Hasina’s extradition and underlined the need to create a conducive environment to advance bilateral relations. The R&AW delegation was simultaneously holding security discussions with Bangladesh’s intelligence agency, DGFI and other officials. The Indian envoy subsequently held discussions with other senior members of the Bangladesh government before returning to New Delhi and briefing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The sequence was significant because it brought together the political, diplomatic and intelligence channels at a time when the two countries were trying to prevent the Hasina issue from becoming a complete bilateral blockade. The security channel remained active into September.

On 9 September, Trivedi met Bangladesh’s Defence Affairs Adviser Brig Gen (retd) AKM Shamsul Islam at the Armed Forces Division in Dhaka. The diplomatic engagement was also continuing at the highest levels. On 17 September, Trivedi met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s adviser and Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin at the PMO in Tejgaon. The two sides discussed bilateral relations and other areas of cooperation, while Amin urged India to ensure that fugitives and convicted persons staying in India did not attempt to create instability in Bangladesh. The timing of the meeting is noteworthy. It came on the same day that Tarique Rahman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanged birthday messages, while reports subsequently emerged of a purported secret visit to Dhaka by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The two sides were simultaneously working on the political track.