India Extends Ex-Bangladesh PM Hasina's Visa Amid Extradition Call by Dhaka

India has extended the visa of deposed Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in the country since last August, people familiar with the matter said against the backdrop of growing calls in Dhaka for her extradition.

- Rezaul H Laskar

Hasina, 77, fled to India after stepping down amid nationwide protests. She has been incommunicado since she arrived at Hindon airbase on August 5, though it is learnt that she has been moved to a safehouse in Delhi. The interim government in Dhaka led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus sought her extradition through a note verbale, or unsigned diplomatic correspondence, sent to the external affairs ministry on December 23.

The former premier's visa was recently extended to facilitate her stay in the country, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity. They dismissed speculation about Hasina being granted asylum in the country by pointing out that India doesn't have a specific law for dealing with refugees and matters such as asylum.

The move to extend the visa involved the Union home ministry, which has to sign off on such matters, and was done through the local Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), the people said without providing details.