Parliamentary panel backs humanitarian approach on Hasina extradition issue

New Delhi: A parliamentary panel has urged the Centre to continue its humanitarian approach towards former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina while handling Dhaka’s extradition request with due sensitivity, even as the MEA informed it that the request is being examined by the competent authorities in accordance with the applicable law and established procedures.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, headed by Shashi Tharoor, noted that Hasina’s stay in India is guided by India’s humanitarian tradition and that New Delhi has not provided her any political platform or allowed political activity from its territory. It also noted that India and Bangladesh had agreed to delist 12 pre-execution Line of Credit projects while prioritising eight high-impact projects for time-bound completion.

Protection of Minorities
The panel recommended that protection of minorities remain a core element of India’s diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh, noting that 2,446 attacks on minorities had been reported till May 18, 2025. It said only after India raised the issue during Foreign Office Consultations did Bangladesh report 70 arrests and 88 cases, and urged Dhaka to bring the perpetrators to justice while asking New Delhi to continue pressing the issue diplomatically.