Highlights

• India says Hasina's extradition is a legal matter
• No change in India's stance on Bangladesh's extradition request
• India says development projects in Bangladesh will continue

India today (14 July) termed former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition a "legal" issue and said it would be dealt with accordingly.

Addressing the weekly media briefing in New Delhi, Randhir Jaiwal, the spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs, said, "On this particular issue, there is no change in our approach. Any extradition is a legal issue, and it will be dealt with accordingly."

Jaiswal was asked a question by an Indian journalist relating to Hasina's recent interview with Reuters in which she said that she and other Awami League leaders plan to return to Bangladesh by December.

Hasina and other AL leaders have been staying in India ever since fleeing Bangladesh in August 2024 in the face of a student-led mass uprising.

Bangladesh has more than once written to India seeking Hasina's extradition to have her face trial in cases, including those filed over alleged crimes against humanity and murders, against her.

Asked to comment on media reports that India's development projects in Bangladesh are likely to be shelved in view of "lack" of progress, Jaiswal said, "Our development project programme that we have in Bangladesh is something that has been done in mutual consultation with Bangladesh, and it continues to be so."

All the development projects were decided and undertaken during the long years of the Hasina government till August 2024.