Ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina is not allowed to carry out any political activities from Indian territory, according to an Indian parliamentary standing committee, which said New Delhi maintains a policy of not allowing its soil to be used for political activities against another country.
The committee, in its report on the future of India-Bangladesh relations tabled in parliament on Thursday, said Hasina's stay in India is based on the country's "civilizational ethos and humanitarian tradition of providing refuge to individuals facing grave crises or existential threats,” according to The Times of India and The Indian Express.
The report also said the Indian government has informed the committee that Bangladesh's request for Sheikh Hasina's extradition is "being examined by the competent authorities" in accordance with applicable laws and prescribed procedures.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, noted Bangladesh's extradition request following the former prime minister's death sentence in absentia and asked the government to keep it informed about the progress of the review.
The committee recommended that the Indian government continue its "principled and humanitarian approach" while handling such matters in line with international obligations and sensitivities.
Sheikh Hasina has been in India since fleeing Bangladesh following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024. Bilateral relations between Dhaka and New Delhi deteriorated after the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus assumed office. A BNP government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman later took office following the February 2026 parliamentary elections.
The committee also urged the Indian government to restore normal visa processing for Bangladeshi citizens as soon as possible, saying reduced visa issuance has created negative public perception and adversely affected bilateral ties. India resumed issuing tourist visas to Bangladeshis on June 28, 2026, after nearly two years of suspension prompted by political instability and security concerns.
It also recommended that New Delhi begin discussions with Dhaka "without further delay" on renewing the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, which is due to expire this year. The report noted that formal renewal talks have yet to begin despite the treaty's expiry in 2026 and called for negotiations based on updated hydrological data, climate change projections, and consultations with the governments of West Bengal and Bihar.
The committee further recommended that India's Ministry of External Affairs continue to treat the protection of Bangladesh's minority communities as a key priority in its diplomatic engagement with Dhaka.