The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which secured a landslide victory in the general election, on Friday reiterated its firm stand on India’s request to extradite ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to face trial.
“The foreign minister has already made a case for her extradition and we also support that,” said senior BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed.
“We always insist on her extradition as per the law. It is between the foreign ministries of both the countries. We have also requested the Indian government to please send her back to the court in Bangladesh,” he added.
Ahmed emphasized that Bangladesh seeks normal relations with all its neighbors, including India, but only on equal terms. “We need a friendly relationship based on mutual respect, equality with all countries including India,” he said.
His comments came soon after the BNP won the general election held on Thursday. This is the first election since a mass uprising in August 2024 forced Hasina to flee to India.
Hasina, who has lived in exile in New Delhi since her overthrow, was sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal in November 2025 for crimes against humanity related to the violent suppression of the 2024 uprising.
Ahmed rejected criticism of electoral inclusivity after the Awami League was blocked due to its suspension and an ongoing investigation into the violence.
“The people of the country know that this is a very inclusive election. If you want to mention the exclusion of Awami League etc, the people rejected it through a mass uprising in August 2024,” Ahmed pointed out.
The expulsion of the Awami League resulted from a decision by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus to ban the party from 2025 amid an investigation into its conduct during the uprising.
“They are being prosecuted and there is also an investigation against the Awami League political party. That is under process,” Ahmed added.