New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday (December 6) said that former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s continued stay in India depends on the “certain circumstance” under which she came to New Delhi last year. While responding to a question at the 23rd Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, wherein he was asked whether Hasina could stay in the country for as long as she wants, Jaishankar said, "That's a different issue, isn't it?", reported Hindustan Times.

He added that said that the former Bangladesh prime minister, who fled to India in August last year following the violent student protests and collapse of her government, came to New Delhi under a "certain circumstance".

"And, you know, I think that circumstance clearly sort of is a factor in what happens to her. But again, that is something which she has to make up her mind," added Jaishankar, reported HT.

After Bangladesh’s three-member special crimes tribunal sentenced Hasina to death on November 17 for “crimes against humanity” during the July uprising, Dhaka had formally asked for India to immediately hand her over under the extradition treaty.

Hasina, 78, who has been in India since fleeing Bangladesh last August, was found guilty on multiple charges. The case concerns accusations of crimes against humanity during the July 2024 street protests that toppled Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5 last year. It is the first verdict from the reconstituted tribunal on the violence during the uprising.

Soon after the order, the Bangladesh foreign ministry posted a press release in Bangla that the convictions meant no country should consider offering asylum to the two Awami League leaders. It said it would be “a grave inhumane act and a miscarriage of justice” for any state to shelter individuals convicted of crimes against humanity, adding that Dhaka was calling on New Delhi to “immediately” hand them over under the extradition treaty in force between the two neighbours.

In India’s first reaction, the Union external affairs ministry gave a short statement that it had “noted” the verdict.

“As a close neighbour, India remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country. We will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end,” it stated.

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