Dhaka, February 13 The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which secured a landslide victory in the general elections, reiterated its firm stance on seeking the extradition of ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India to face trial on Friday.
"The foreign minister has already made the case for her extradition, and we also support it," said Senior BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed.
"We always insist on her extradition according to the law. This is a matter between the foreign ministries of the two countries. We have also requested the Indian government to send her back to face trial in Bangladesh," he added.
Ahmed emphasized that Bangladesh seeks normal relations with all its neighbors, including India, but only on equal terms. "We need a friendly relationship based on mutual respect and equality with all countries, including India," he said.
His comments came soon after the BNP's sweeping victory in the general elections held on Thursday. This is the first election since the mass uprising in August 2024 that forced Hasina to flee to India.
Hasina, who has been living in exile in New Delhi since her ouster, was sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal in November 2025 for crimes against humanity linked to the violent suppression of the 2024 uprising.
Ahmed dismissed criticisms about the election's inclusivity after the Awami League was barred due to its suspension and ongoing violence probes.
"The people of the country know that this is a very inclusive election. If you want to mention the exclusion of the Awami League, etc., then the people have rejected it through the mass uprising in August 2024," Ahmed underlined.
The Awami League's exclusion stemmed from a decision by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which banned the party's activities in 2025 amid probes into its conduct during the uprising.
"They are being prosecuted, and there is also an ongoing investigation against the political party, the Awami League. This is part of the legal process," Ahmed added.
