What India is saying about Sheikh Hasina’s extradition and Bangladesh’s purchase of ‘light tanks’

Last Updated on January 4, 2025 8:18 am

India has nothing new to say at this time regarding Bangladesh’s request to return ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the country’s Ministry of External Affairs. At the regular weekly briefing at the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi on Friday afternoon, he also made it clear that the Indian government does not want to comment on the matter right now.

Asked whether India had responded to Bangladesh’s request to extradite Hasina, Jaiswal said, “Earlier, I confirmed that we have received the message from the Bangladesh government regarding Sheikh Hasina. Apart from that, I have nothing more to add at this time.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5 last year in the face of student uprisings and left the country for India. She has been there since then. There are one after another murder cases against her. There is even a case of genocide. Therefore, the Ministry of External Affairs sent a diplomatic note to India on December 23, seeking the return of the former Prime Minister for the sake of the judicial process. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs acknowledged receiving the note on the same day.

Meanwhile, regarding the non-bail of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatani Jagran Jote in the sedition case, Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have said it before and we are saying it again. Those who have been arrested for the kind of activities going on in Bangladesh should be given a fair trial. This is our expectation.”

The spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs also answered a few more specific questions regarding Bangladesh today. They were:

Regarding the rumor of Bangladesh buying ‘light tanks’ from Turkey

During the regular weekly briefing at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, a journalist asked, citing various sources, “It is reported that Bangladesh is in talks to buy 26 light tanks or ‘light armored vehicles’ for its army from the Turkish company ‘Autokar’. How does India view this decision from the perspective of regional security?”

In response, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “After the recent visit of the Indian Foreign Secretary to Dhaka, this attitude has been made clear in the form of a press statement that India supports a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive, inclusive Bangladesh. It has also been said that we want to build a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh, which should be based on mutual trust, dignity, interests and sensitivity to each other’s concerns.”

“So this is our view on Bangladesh. We will have the same view on the matter you are asking about. Apart from that, you know, we keep a close eye on every security issue in our neighborhood and take appropriate steps, the same will be done here too, said Randhir Jaiswal.

Regarding the ‘July Declaration’

On December 31, the anti-discrimination student leadership in Bangladesh first announced that the ‘July Declaration’ would be issued, in which some leaders also warned that the ‘72 Constitution would be written in the grave. Referring to this, journalists wanted to know whether India sees this step as an attempt to undermine the current Constitution of Bangladesh?

In response, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs repeated his previous statement and said, ‘India believes that the people of both countries are the real ‘stakeholders’ or partners in the relations between the two countries! This is our view of Bangladesh. Various kinds of incidents or developments are happening there. Something or the other is happening almost every day. But that is our ‘generic approach’ or general view of them!’

Regarding ‘Bangladeshis’ getting Indian passports

A journalist asked in the briefing, ‘Recently, there have been many complaints from various parts of India that foreign nationals (referring to Bangladeshi nationals) who illegally entered India and got Indian passports and it is being known after they are caught by the police. The West Bengal government has also written to the Ministry of External Affairs to stop this. What is your statement on this?

The spokesperson said, ‘One thing is very clear – Indian passports are only for Indian nationals. But if there is any deviation from this rule and we come to know about it, then the government agencies will quickly take remedial measures and take legal action.

Regarding the campaign against ‘illegal Bangladeshis’ and their deportation

Regarding the massive police campaign against the so-called ‘illegal Bangladeshis’, Randhir Jaiswal said, ‘You asked about the deportation of illegal immigrants… Look, many (foreigners) come and go in our country as per the rules and laws, there is no problem with that. But if someone comes to India in violation of the rules and laws, then we have to investigate and take action against them. So the answer to your question is very simple – our army or border guards will take action against them and they will do their duty!’