Bangladesh’s opposition-oriented Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has continued its attack on India over former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s continued stay in New Delhi, demanding she face charges at home – even as the party’s newly released election manifesto calls for cooperative relations with neighbors for “collective progress”.
BNP chief Tariq Rahman is hoping to leave Sheikh Hasina behind and take Bangladesh on a new pathWith national elections due on February 12, the BNP has made Hasina’s extradition a central campaign theme, arguing that India’s continued harboring of the ousted Awami League leader undermines Bangladesh’s judicial process and sovereignty. At the same time, late Khaleda Zia’s party BNP has a manifesto indicating that it wants structured, mutually beneficial and mutually respectful relations with neighboring countries.
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BNP’s Bharat Line centered on extradition demandsSheikh Hasina has been living in India since August 5, 2024, after mass protests forced her to resign and leave Bangladesh. A special tribunal in Dhaka later found him guilty in absentia of a crime-against-humanity case linked to the crackdown on the July uprising and sentenced him to death.
After the verdict, Bangladeshi authorities formally moved for his return under the India-Bangladesh extradition framework, while BNP leaders have repeatedly said India should bring him to justice.
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Senior BNP figures described the issue as an issue of legal obligations and sovereignty and said bilateral relations should move “beyond Sheikh Hasina” and not be tied to any one political formation.
India has yet to publicly commit to extradition, with officials maintaining that such matters are governed by legal processes and treaty provisions, and that New Delhi seeks stable relations with Bangladesh amid political turmoil.
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The manifesto has a softer tone, calling for ‘collective progress’However, in an important parallel message, the BNP’s election manifesto released days before the February 12 polls called for building relations with neighboring countries based on equality, mutual respect and shared development goals.
BNP chief Tariq Rahman, later Khaleda Zia’s son who recently returned to London after years under Hasina’s rule, said the party would strongly defend Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty as well as maintain ties with its neighbors for “collective progress”.
“We will develop relations with other countries while maintaining the interests, independence and sovereignty of my country,” Rahman said at the manifesto launch event, according to PTI. He added that relations with neighbors would be based on “equality, cooperation and friendship”, based on mutual respect and understanding.
According to the Bangladesh News Agency (BSS), the manifesto adopted “Bangladesh First” as the core philosophy of the regime.
In a separate interview with Bass, Rahman said a BNP government would pursue an “economy-oriented foreign policy” and prioritize protecting Bangladesh’s economic interests in global participation. He told The Diplomat magazine that the party’s foreign policy would be guided by a “Bangladesh First” framework.
Border killings, river water: Indirect references to IndiaWhile the manifesto does not directly name India, several provisions are widely seen as references to India-Bangladesh friction points.
According to a report by news agency PTI, citing the text of the manifesto and a summary of the BSS, the BNP has pledged to ensure a “fair share of water” from the Padma (Ganga), Teesta and other transboundary rivers – an area of long-standing bilateral dispute.
The manifesto pledged “strong action” to prevent border killings and cross-border push-ins, describing such activities as an unacceptable attack on the people of Bangladesh – language widely interpreted by Dhaka-based observers as targeting India’s border management practices.
Promise to protect minorities including HindusThe manifesto also includes promises aimed at reassuring minority communities, including Hindus and other religious groups.
The BNP has pledged to increase funding for welfare trusts serving Hindus and other minorities, as well as training-based and honorary support programs for religious leaders of various faiths. forever with
Rahman said the party would uphold Bangladesh’s “traditional inter-faith harmony” and reiterated the principle that religion belongs to the individual and the state to all citizens, PTI reported from the launch event.
The manifesto said, “No one shall be allowed to hurt the religious beliefs of any citizen.
Balancing Act of IndiaIndian authorities have so far avoided taking a firm public stance on Hasina’s extradition. As explained in a Hindustan Times report prior to the Indo-Bangladesh extradition treaty, surrender is not automatic and can be denied under exceptions including the political nature of the crime, fair trial concerns, and exposure to the death penalty unless assurances are given.
The final decision rests with the Government of India after legal review.
New Delhi has repeatedly stressed the importance of stable relations with Bangladesh and engagement among political stakeholders, reflecting concerns about being drawn into election-season rivalry.
India-Bangladesh Extradition Treaty: What it authorizesIndia and Bangladesh have a bilateral extradition treaty that allows each country to request the extradition of individuals accused or convicted of certain crimes. But, extradition is not automatic despite the agreement. A formal legal process must be followed, including documentation, statement of charges and judicial review.
Most extradition treaties, including the one between India and Bangladesh, contain exceptions for political offences, if the requested country believes the charges are political in nature.
If the requesting country imposes the death penalty, the requested country may obtain assurances that the sentence will not be carried out before agreeing to extradition. This could become an important talking point as the execution was carried out in Sheikh Hasina’s absence.Extradition usually requires dual criminality — that is, the alleged offense must be punishable under the laws of both countries.Even after a court review, the final decision rests with the government of the country holding the individual – in this case, the central government of India.The requesting country may refuse extradition if they believe the accused will not receive a fair trial or may face persecution.In addition to formal extradition, countries can transfer by deportation or negotiation, but this is a political and diplomatic decision rather than a treaty obligation.
What is at stake for India-Bangladesh relations?With the collapse of the Awami League and Hasina’s exile, the BNP has emerged as the main electoral force in Bangladesh’s restructured political arena.
By combining strong demands for Hasina’s return with manifesto language on equality-based neighborly cooperation, the BNP is signaling that relations with India will continue – but on renegotiated political terms.
As the campaign enters its final phase, the Hasina extradition question remains the sharpest edge of the BNP’s position on India – and a potential early test of how bilateral relations may evolve after the vote.
