Hasina extradition to be handled legally: India

India on Tuesday said there has been no change in its position regarding former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, reiterating that any request for her extradition is a legal matter that will be handled in accordance with the law, reports UNB.

"There is no change in our approach to this matter. Any extradition issue is a legal one, as you very well know, and it will be dealt with accordingly," Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters at a regular media briefing in New Delhi.

He was responding to a question about Hasina's recent interview in which she expressed her intention to return to Bangladesh in December this year.

Replying to another question on development projects in Bangladesh, Jaiswal said India's development cooperation with Bangladesh is based on mutual consultations and that the existing framework remains unchanged.

Earlier on Tuesday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told Parliament that the Bangladesh government wants Hasina extradited under the existing bilateral extradition treaty.

He said she would be arrested immediately upon her return to the country, noting that she had already been convicted in several cases.

Referring to the government's legal position, the minister said Hasina would have no opportunity to surrender because she is already a convicted person.

"If she returns, she will be arrested immediately, and the verdicts will be executed. If there is any scope for appeal, that will be decided by the court," Salahuddin said.