India working on Sheikh Hasina's return to Bangladesh, seeks security guarantees: Report
The former Bangladesh prime minister applied for fresh travel documents on November 9, her first official contact with Dhaka since fleeing the country in August 2024
The Centre is reportedly arranging Sheikh Hasina's return to Bangladesh in December, with New Delhi seeking guarantees from Dhaka on her security and a fair trial.
According to a BBC Bangla report, the former Prime Minister, who fled Dhaka in August 2024, has reportedly received India's tacit approval for the move. The Bangladesh government led by Tarique Rahman has not confirmed the report.
India reportedly working on return plan
The report, citing sources in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the military establishment, said New Delhi had been working on a possible route for Hasina's return. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal declined to comment on Friday (November 13).
"I have nothing to say on that," Jaiswal told reporters.
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Hasina applied for a fresh passport and travel documents on November 9, marking her first official contact with the Bangladeshi government since leaving the country. Dhaka's response was not encouraging, with some leaders continuing to demand her extradition. A Bangladeshi court has sentenced her to death.
New Delhi seeks army role in return
The report further stated that Indian officials have set out two conditions. The first concerns the Bangladesh Army's involvement in bringing her back. Hasina arrived in India on August 5, 2024, aboard a Bangladeshi military aircraft. New Delhi now wants the same institution to take responsibility for her return.
Also Read: Hasina seeks fresh passport ahead of planned December return to Bangladesh
"The process could take place either by air or by land. Bangladesh could send a military aircraft to bring her back from Delhi, or its army could receive her at a designated point along the land border," the report quoted an Indian source as saying. New Delhi was prepared to make the logistical arrangements, it added.
India seeks fresh trial and right to appeal
The second condition concerns her legal case. India wants Dhaka to "guarantee Sheikh Hasina an opportunity to appeal against her death sentence and ensure that her trial over the July massacre allegations is conducted afresh," BBC Bangla reported.
"We can never knowingly hand her over to be hanged. Rather, we would want to ensure that she gets an opportunity for a fresh and fair trial," it added, quoting an MEA official. The official also wanted international scrutiny of the proceedings.
Indian envoy's meeting with Army Chief
India had reportedly held discussions with Dhaka for several months. In October, Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi met Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth during an unscheduled visit to Delhi.
"The interaction focussed on issues of India-Bangladesh bilateral cooperation and measures for strengthening Defence ties," the Army stated in a post on X.
Also Read: 'Hasina has no option but to face death sentence if she returns to Bangladesh': Prosecutor
"Ordinarily there would be no reason for our High Commissioner in Bangladesh to come to Delhi and meet the Army Chief, unless there was a special reason arising from a particular situation,” BBC Bangla quoted a senior military official as saying
The report further stated that the official linked the meeting to "ensuring an active role for the army in Sheikh Hasina's return to Bangladesh".