"Realistically, I think the election could be held by next year," he told Channel 1 as quoted by The Daily Star.

He said if India adheres to the extradition treaty then the country should return her to Bangladesh.

"If India interprets the law honestly, it must repatriate Hasina," he said.

Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against former PM Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India after escaping amid escalating tension, for her alleged role in crimes against humanity and genocide during the July-August uprising.

This is the first time an arrest warrant was issued against the longest serving PM of the country since the fall of her government on August 5.

The tribunal also issued arrest warrants against 45 others including Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

The three-member tribunal, led by its chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, issued the warrants after the prosecution filed two petitions, reported The Daily Star.

Bangladesh witnessed massive protests, which initially began over a job quota row, and then spiralled into a mass movement that led to the fall of Hasina's regime.

She had returned to power for another term after registering a strong victory in the polls earlier this year.

The protests witnessed by the South Asian nation were the deadliest seen since independence in 1971.

Following Hasina's escape to India, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge of the government.