Jaishankar skips question on extraditing Hasina

India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, has shut down a journalist in Berlin when he cited media reports to ask question about the potential extradition of Bangladesh's former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.

Jaishankar faced the questions of Bangladesh’s political crisis during a press conference in the presence of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in Berlin, Germany on Wednesday. 

Jaishankar declined to provide specific details, cutting off the journalist and stating, “As you know, there is change in government of Bangladesh and we obviously deal with the government of the day.  How we deal with that is through diplomatic channels, not necessarily through reports which are reported by the press.” 

Jaishankar is in Berlin on the second leg of his three-nation tour. The Economic Times highlighted the issue on Wednesday (September 11).

Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh to India on August 5, following her resignation in the face of a student-led uprising. Since then, she has remained in India, while several cases have been filed against her in Bangladesh on various charges, including the killing of students. Investigations into these allegations are currently ongoing.

In light of these developments, there have been growing calls for Sheikh Hasina to be brought back to Bangladesh to face trial. During the press conference, a journalist asked Jaishankar about India's stance on the matter, citing media reports.