Hasina cannot engage in politics from India, Modi government tells parliamentary committee

Recently, former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death, said she could return to the country by the end of this year. Following the remarks, the Indian government told a parliamentary committee that she cannot conduct any political activities from India. The Indian Express reported this on Friday.

The committee headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, said in the Lok Sabha on Thursday that India’s position on providing asylum to Sheikh Hasina is primarily guided by “the civilizational ethos and humanitarian tradition of giving asylum to persons facing extreme distress or existential threats.”

The committee further noted that while demonstrating such humanitarian considerations, India has strictly adhered to the policy that no political activities against another country will be conducted from its territory.

Bangladesh Law Minister M. Asaduzzaman said on Thursday that Sheikh Hasina could be arrested immediately if she returns to the country from India.

Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs told the parliamentary committee that “the request received from Dhaka for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina is being examined by the relevant authorities of the Government of India in accordance with applicable laws and established procedures.”

In its latest report titled ‘The Future of India Bangladesh Relations,’ the committee recommended that “the government should maintain a principled and humanitarian approach while ensuring that such situations are handled with due sensitivity.”

The parliamentary committee also called for the swift normalization of visa processing for Bangladeshi citizens. According to the committee, the reduction in visa processing for Bangladeshi citizens is creating negative perceptions among the public and damaging bilateral relations. Visa services had remained suspended for two years following political unrest and security concerns in July 2024. India subsequently resumed tourist visa services for Bangladeshi citizens on June 28, 2026.

Noting that the Ganges water sharing treaty signed between India and Bangladesh in 1996 expires this year, the committee urged the government to begin discussions with Dhaka without any further delay.

The report said the treaty is due to expire in 2026. Bilateral talks on its renewal have not yet begun. Therefore, the committee recommended that negotiations on renewing the treaty be started promptly based on updated hydrological data and climate change projections, and after consultations with the state governments of West Bengal and Bihar.

In addition, the parliamentary committee recommended that India’s Ministry of External Affairs continue to prioritize the protection of minorities in Bangladesh as one of the key components of its diplomatic engagement.