The caretaker government in Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Dhaka on Monday in a diplomatic note sent to New Delhi stated that there is an urge for the return of the 77-year-old Awami League leader, to face judicial proceedings. She had been residing in India since August 5 after massive protests ended her 16-year tenure.
International Crimes Tribunal Dhaka based had issued warrants of arrests against Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and many senior ministers from her administration for committing crimes against humanity and genocide.
Diplomatic pressure mounts for their extradition.
Foreign affairs adviser to the interim government Touhid Hossain confirmed the request. “We have communicated through a diplomatic message that Bangladesh wants her to return for legal proceedings,” he said. Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam also revealed that his office had written to the Ministry of External Affairs in India to expedite the process.
Bangladesh and India share an extradition treaty, under which Sheikh Hasina’s transfer can be facilitated. The diplomatic appeal follows Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s recent visit to Bangladesh, during which he discussed several pressing issues, including Ms. Hasina’s stay in India, with Nobel laureate and interim Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.
Political tensions escalate, Bangladesh demand back Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka from India
Sheikh Hasina has accused Muhammad Yunus of orchestrating political unrest that ousted her government. In a virtual speech to Awami League activists in London, she identified him as the “mastermind” behind the disturbance, referring to his temporary government as a “fascist regime.”
Ms. Hasina also denounced the increased attacks on minorities, alleging that the current government was responsible for widespread violence against Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists. “Bangladesh is now under the grip of a fascist regime, undoing our achievements in poverty reduction, democracy, and infrastructure,” she claimed.
Regional Implications
India’s role in this extradition request is crucial and likely to strain bilateral relations further. The situation also speaks of growing instability in Bangladesh, where allegations of political persecution and human rights violations are mounting.
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