The death sentence handed down to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently in exile in India, has intensified diplomatic tension between the two neighbors. Despite repeated requests from Dhaka, New Delhi has refused to extradite Hasina, citing a clause in the 2013 extradition treaty that exempts political figures. Analysts including Michael Kugelman, Sreeradha Dutta, and Sanjay Bhardwaj told Al Jazeera that India now faces an uncomfortable dilemma—balancing its traditional loyalty to Hasina with the need to engage Bangladesh’s new leadership. Kugelman described Hasina’s presence in India as a long-term irritant in bilateral relations, while Dutta noted that India must now rebuild ties with other political stakeholders in Dhaka. Bhardwaj emphasized that extraditing Hasina would legitimize anti-India forces in Bangladesh. Experts agree that while trade and security cooperation continue, the Hasina issue remains a major obstacle to restoring trust between the two countries.