Eighteen months of GenZ uprising, Bangladesh is now seeing a new political dawn as the 13th parliamentary election results handed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) a decisive mandate. The party under Tarique Rahman is set to return to power after 20 years, marking its first stint since his mother Khaleda Zia's last term as the prime minister. Meanwhile, nearly 1,500 km away from Dhaka, former PM Sheikh Hasina remains in exile.
In her first reaction to the election in her home country, Hasina condemned it and called it a "farce".
What's next for Sheikh Hasina?
The newly evolved political landscape in Bangladesh carried serious implications for Hasina, especially after her conviction for the violent crackdown on student protesters during the July uprising.
She was sentenced to death in November 2025 by a tribunal court.
In the run-up to the parliamentary elections, now-victorious BNP has consistently pressed its demand for Hasina's extradition to Dhaka.
Apart from BNP, all major parties in the neighbouring country have called for her extradition. The interim government, led by Mohd Yunu,s had also urged India formally to deport her.
In an official statement, the Bangladesh foreign ministry had said that providing "refuge to these individuals, who have been convicted of crimes against humanity, by any other country would be a highly unfriendly act and a disregard for justice."
As her arch-rival BNP has come to power with a huge mandate, it is most likely to pursue the issue aggressively as the demand was part of its campaign.
Additionally, India and Bangladesh have an extradition treaty, under which Bangladeshi authorities have already initiated proceedings seeking her return.
Senior BNP leaders have termed the issue of her extradition as both a legal obligation and an issue of Bangladeshi sovereignty.
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What is India's stand?
As India-Bangladesh relations are at their lowest in 20 years, the issue can become a flashpoint to resolve before normalisation of bilateral relations, which both sides have termed necessary.
India’s position on Hasina has remained unchanged since day one; It is her decision whether to return, particularly given concerns over what may happen to her upon returning to Dhaka.