The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told a parliamentary standing committee that former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is living in India, is not being given any platform or space to carry out political activity from Indian soil, the Indian Express reported.
The account appears in the latest report of India’s parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. The matter was discussed at a meeting of the committee, which is chaired by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor.
The discussion followed recent remarks by Hasina about the possibility of returning to Bangladesh by the end of this year. According to the Indian Express, Bangladesh’s law minister, Md Asaduzzaman, has said Hasina could be arrested as soon as she returns, as she is wanted in multiple cases at home.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs told the committee that Dhaka’s request for Hasina’s extradition is being reviewed by the relevant authorities in line with India’s existing laws and procedures.
The committee’s report said Hasina had been allowed to stay in India in keeping with the country’s humanitarian tradition and its long-standing policy of giving shelter to people facing distress. At the same time, it said, India strictly follows the principle that its territory cannot be used to conduct political activity against any other country.
Recommendations on India-Bangladesh ties
In the report, titled “The Future of India-Bangladesh Relations,” the committee recommended that the government keep to a humanitarian and principled position while handling such sensitive situations with care.
The committee also called for quickly restoring normal visa services for Bangladeshi citizens. It said reduced visa processing for Bangladeshis was creating negative perceptions between the two countries’ peoples and affecting bilateral relations.
India resumed tourist visas for Bangladeshis on June 28, 2026, about two years after suspending them in July 2024 because of political unrest and security concerns.
Call for early talks on Ganges treaty
Noting that the 1996 Ganges water-sharing treaty between Bangladesh and India is due to expire this year, the committee recommended that Dhaka and Delhi begin renewal talks quickly. It said updated water-flow data, the effects of climate change and consultations with the West Bengal and Bihar state governments should be given weight in any renewal.
Focus on protection of minorities
The report also said the Ministry of External Affairs should continue to treat the protection of minorities in Bangladesh as an important priority in India’s diplomatic engagement.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report