Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has said a legal process is underway regarding the possible return of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently staying in India, to Bangladesh, but no specific timeline can be given.
“The spokesperson of India's Ministry of External Affairs has repeatedly clarified India's position on this issue. There is a legal and structured process underway, and the courts are also involved. Therefore, it is not possible to specify a timeline for her return,” Trivedi said.
He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists during a session of the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026 in Dhaka on Saturday.
Asked about the possible return of those accused of killing Shaheed Osman Hadi, the Indian envoy gave a similar response, referring to the ongoing legal process.
Trivedi said the issue needed to be understood in its historical context, adding that the relevant Indian authorities had already explained the country's position.
Referring to Hasina's arrival in India, he said she had not been brought to the country by the Indian Air Force or the Indian Army. Rather, she came to India amid the tragic circumstances that had unfolded in Bangladesh at the time.
He expressed hope that no country would again face a situation in which innocent people had to endure such circumstances.
The high commissioner recalled that a military aircraft had arrived in India during that period and that India itself had not been prepared for such a situation. He said he had been watching television reports at the time, which initially suggested that Hasina might travel to another country.
“During that moment, she was the prime minister of Bangladesh. Given the circumstances, there were not many options before us,” he said.
Trivedi added that, as a neighbouring country, India had to respond to the realities of the situation. Refusing entry or denying landing permission could have led to an uncertain outcome, he said.
Describing the episode as part of the historical context, he said the current legal process was proceeding on its own course. He also noted that both Bangladesh and India were democracies that respected the rule of law and their respective judicial processes.
Responding to a question about India's security concerns, Trivedi said Bangladesh was an independent and sovereign country whose government and people had the right to make decisions based on their own interests and security needs.
He said India had full confidence in the people of Bangladesh and did not believe Bangladesh would interfere in India's security matters.
The envoy also said Bangladesh's relations with other countries would not determine its relationship with India. Both countries, he said, had the right to protect their national interests while respecting each other's dignity and sovereignty.
Emphasising the broader nature of bilateral ties, Trivedi said relations between Bangladesh and India should not be viewed merely as transactional. The two countries share deep historical and cultural bonds that extend beyond routine exchanges, he added.
