The two big questions haunting political circles in South Asia are whether India will extradite Sheikh Hasina to Dhaka after a court there sentenced her to death and what will happen next to Bangladesh which is already in the throes of a political and economic crisis.

India in its answer to Bangladesh government’s call to “immediately hand over convicted individuals”, seems to have completely side-stepped the demand and merely pointed out that it has has “noted the verdict announced by the ‘International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh’ concerning Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”

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The Indian government’s message to Dhaka, following the latest judgment, appears unmistakable: “You may place any demand you wish, but India will take its own decisions in its own way.”

Pinak Ranjan

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