by India’s former guest becomes Bangladesh’s most wanted
Bangladesh has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia, creating what diplomats are calling “a bit of an awkward situation” for India, where she’s currently residing. The sentence relates to her government’s handling of protests, making this the legal equivalent of burning bridges while standing on them. Bangladesh essentially declared its former leader should be executed, which complicates India’s position from “providing refuge to a neighbor” to “harboring someone with a death sentence.”
Sheikh Hasina fled to India in August amid massive protests, arriving as a guest and now staying as… well, nobody’s quite sure what to call her current status. “Political refugee” sounds too formal, “indefinite houseguest” too casual, and “diplomatic headache” too accurate. India finds itself hosting someone Bangladesh desperately wants back, creating the foreign policy equivalent of being caught between your fighting friends who both expect your loyalty.
The death sentence makes India’s options delightfully complicated. Return Hasina and face criticism for sending someone to execution; keep her and strain relations with Bangladesh; pretend this isn’t happening and hope it goes away somehow. It’s a diplomatic Kobayashi Marua no-win scenario that tests how creatively India can reframe “we’re stuck and have no good options” as “we’re carefully considering all angles.”
Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has taken a decidedly hard line against Hasina’s administration. Yunus went from microfinance guru to running a country in political turmoil faster than most people change careers. His government’s decision to seek the death penalty sends a clear message: “We’re very serious about accountability and also really want her back for trial.” The subtlety is breathtaking.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has been performing diplomatic gymnastics worthy of Olympic recognition, issuing statements that somehow say everything and nothing simultaneously. “We’re monitoring the situation” is diplomat-speak for “we have no idea what to do but need to sound official.” The art of appearing concerned, engaged, and decisive while actually being paralyzed by impossible choicesit’s diplomacy’s highest form.
The situation highlights the messiness of regional politics in South Asia, where yesterday’s ally becomes today’s convicted criminal and tomorrow’s… well, that depends on who’s in power next week. Hasina led Bangladesh for 15 years, maintaining close ties with India, which makes her current fugitive status particularly uncomfortable. It’s like your longtime friend suddenly becoming persona non grata in their own home, and now they’re indefinitely crashing on your couch while their family demands you hand them over.
Bangladesh has filed extradition requests, which India is reportedly studying with the kind of intense focus usually reserved for texts from your ex. Every word matters, every legal precedent is scrutinized, and ultimately the goal is finding a way to avoid making any decision at all for as long as possible. The beauty of bureaucracy is that “processing” can take indefinitely long when the alternative is choosing between bad options.
The death sentence is symbolic as much as legalBangladesh asserting sovereignty and demanding accountability while knowing India won’t simply hand over a former head of government for execution. It’s political theater where everyone knows the script but must perform anyway. Hasina won’t face Bangladesh’s courts anytime soon, but the sentence ensures she can’t pretend this is temporary exile rather than permanent flight.
India’s position is made more complex by its own interests in maintaining stability in Bangladesh and keeping Chinese influence at bay. Alienating Dhaka over Hasina risks pushing Bangladesh further into Beijing’s orbit, which from New Delhi’s perspective is worse than the current awkwardness. So India performs the delicate dance of not-quite-supporting and not-quite-abandoning, the diplomatic equivalent of “it’s complicated” relationship status.
SOURCE: https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/asia/bangladesh-india-sheikh-hasina-death-sentence-intl-hnk-dst
SOURCE: Bohiney.com (https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/21/asia/bangladesh-india-sheikh-hasina-death-sentence-intl-hnk-dst)
