Bangladesh’s Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said the government has completed all necessary legal procedures to bring back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity linked to the July–August 2024 uprising.
He stated that the decision on her return now rests entirely with the Indian government.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday (14 November) at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka, Asaduzzaman said Bangladesh has fulfilled its side of the process under the bilateral extradition treaty. “The required legal steps from the government’s end have been completed. The matter now depends on the decision of the Indian government,” he said.
Hasina was flown to India on a military aircraft on 5 August 2024 amid the student-led uprising that ended her long tenure. In November 2025, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) convicted her in absentia of crimes against humanity and sentenced her to death (along with former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal), a trial Hasina and her party term one-sided and vengeful.
Bangladesh has since made formal extradition requests to India, which has acknowledged receipt of the requests and said they are under examination through established procedures. India has not yet announced a decision.
However, sources say Bangladesh has not sent the verdict copy and necessary documents related to Hasina’s case, following which the Indian government will move the Supreme Court for a decision. The process may take two to three years.
On the question of an appeal, the Law Minister said that under the law enacted by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina will not have the opportunity to appeal.
Asaduzzaman also addressed other ongoing legal matters. He said investigation agencies and the prosecution will soon begin district-level probes into crimes against humanity, and the government will provide full necessary cooperation. Regarding efforts to bring the Awami League as a party under the ambit of justice, he stressed that the government will not interfere in the investigation in any way and that the agencies and prosecution will operate independently.
Earlier the same day, at a general meeting of sub-registrars, the minister commented on the land registration system. He noted that public perception of sub-registrars’ role in land registration is poor and that the department must quickly improve. He said the sub-registrar wing will be made harassment-free, with a policy of zero tolerance for any harassment that continues thereafter.
The statement comes amid continued public and media discussion in both Bangladesh and India about Hasina’s possible return and the status of the extradition request. The minister has previously described Hasina as a “convicted criminal” in the eyes of Bangladeshi law and emphasised that any action taken will follow due legal process rather than emotion.