• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s continued stay in India was her personal decision and shaped by the “circumstances” under which she arrived last year. His remarks come at a time when Dhaka has intensified its legal offensive against senior members of the former ruling family, handing down fresh jail terms in the Purbachal land allocation case.

Hasina’s Stay ‘Her Decision’, Says Jaishankar

Speaking at a media conclave, Jaishankar said Hasina came to India after her government collapsed during violent unrest that left hundreds dead. “She came here in a certain circumstance, and I think that circumstance clearly is a factor in what happens to her,” he said. When asked whether she was welcome to remain in India indefinitely, the minister replied, “That is something she has to make up her mind about.”

Hasina, 78, fled to India in August 2024 as student-led protests spiralled into nationwide clashes, eventually forcing her out after 15 years in power. Last month, the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia for “crimes against humanity” linked to last year’s crackdown.

India’s Position: Peace, Stability And Democratic Process

Reiterating New Delhi’s stance on political developments in Bangladesh, Jaishankar underlined the need for a “credible democratic process.” “As far as we are concerned, we wish Bangladesh well. Any democratic country wants the will of the people to be ascertained through a democratic process,” he said, adding that India hoped bilateral ties would “improve” as stability returns.

Following Hasina’s death sentence in November, the Ministry of External Affairs had said India had “noted the verdict” and would continue engaging constructively with all stakeholders in Bangladesh in the interest of peace and regional stability.

ALSO READ: India’s First Reaction To Sheikh Hasina’s Death Verdict: ‘Remains Committed To...'

Dhaka Issues Fresh Sentences In Purbachal Case

In a separate development, a Dhaka court also sentenced Hasina to five years in prison in the Purbachal New Town Project case. Her sister, Sheikh Rehana, received seven years, while her daughter, British MP Tulip Siddiq, was sentenced to two years.

These rulings add to a series of cases filed after Hasina’s exit. On November 27, she was handed 21 years in jail in three graft cases. Earlier, the International Crimes Tribunal delivered the death sentence over her government’s handling of last year’s protests. Former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal received the same penalty.

ALSO READ: Sheikh Hasina, Sister Rehana, Niece Tulip Siddiq Sentenced In Bangladesh Land Scam Case

As legal and political pressures converge, Bangladesh finds itself navigating one of the most turbulent phases in its recent history. With the former ruling family abroad, the opposition accusing the interim administration of misuse of institutions, and New Delhi urging democratic stability, the region watches closely for what comes next.

Also In News