India's spokesperson Jaiswal declines to comment on reports of Dhaka sending a military plane to bring back Hasina

India's external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has declined to comment on media reports that New Delhi wants Bangladesh to send a military aircraft to take back ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. A journalist raised the matter during a question-and-answer session at the Indian external affairs ministry's briefing in New Delhi on Friday. The spokesperson repeatedly said he had nothing to say on the subject.

The journalist said in his question that several reports suggest New Delhi wants Bangladesh to send a military aircraft to bring former prime minister Sheikh Hasina back from New Delhi, that she would be given the opportunity to appeal against her death sentence, and that she would face a fresh trial over the 2024 crackdown. He asked whether there had been any assurance or communication on the matter.

The Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson gave no direct answer to the question. He said, 'You have mentioned several possible scenarios. Look, I have nothing to say on that.'

More questions about Sheikh Hasina were asked at the briefing. One journalist asked whether her possible return would be through a land port or by air. He also asked whether the Indian government had any preparation at all for Hasina's return, or whether the Indian government was concerned about the complex issue. Jaiswal answered none of these questions and made no comment.

The Bangladesh government has been requesting India to extradite Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death in a crimes against humanity case over the killings during the July mass uprising, under the prisoner exchange treaty. India has not yet responded to the request.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina has announced that she wants to return home in December at any cost. News agency Reuters recently reported that Sheikh Hasina has written to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi seeking a passport and a national identity card.

On Thursday, BBC Bangla published a report on Sheikh Hasina's announcement of returning home. The report suggested that Hasina had not announced her return without India's consent. It mentioned two Indian conditions in that case. First, Sheikh Hasina arrived in India aboard a Bangladesh military aircraft, so the Bangladesh Army itself would have to carry out the task of taking her back; that return could be by land or by air. Second, Bangladesh would have to guarantee that Hasina gets the opportunity to appeal against her death sentence and that the trial over the July killings starts afresh.

Referring to such reports at Friday's briefing, journalists asked whether there was any truth to them, or whether the government would say that news of such an initiative was false. In reply, the external affairs ministry spokesperson repeatedly said he had nothing to say or comment on the matter.

Asked about Sheikh Hasina's extradition, Jaiswal repeated his earlier position. He said, 'The matter of extradition is a legal matter. The decision on it will be taken through the legal process.'

The postponement of the Bangladesh-India consular dialogue was also raised at the briefing. Asked why the meeting scheduled for 17 and 18 November in Dhaka had been postponed, Jaiswal said the talks would be held on a date mutually convenient for the two countries.

Jaiswal said many kinds of reports had come to notice over the consular meeting not taking place, and much had been written about it in India as well. He said, 'India has always said it wants a positive, constructive and future-oriented relationship with Bangladesh. Initiatives have also been taken towards that goal. Meetings have been held between the two countries under structural arrangements. Among many other subjects, trade, rail connectivity, water resources and border management were discussed at that meeting.'

Jaiswal also said consular talks between the two countries on the revised travel documents management would be held on a mutually agreed convenient date. India is ready to discuss all bilateral issues with Bangladesh under the existing arrangements, and is also willing to hold talks at the technical level. In short, the consular dialogue will be held on a day convenient for both countries.