Indian external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina must decide whether she will continue staying in India after fleeing a mass uprising last August. He told NDTV at the HT Leadership Summit that Hasina “came here in a certain circumstance,” adding that those circumstances remain central to her situation.
Hasina fled with her sister, Sheikh Rehana, and was later sentenced to death in absentia by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity during the July uprising. Dhaka has formally asked India to repatriate her, submitting requests in December and again after last month’s verdict.
Jaishankar said India prioritises a credible democratic process in Bangladesh and expressed confidence that a fair election would help stabilise bilateral relations.