New Delhi, Dec 23: Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite its ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India earlier this year after mass protests ended her 15-year rule.
The request, made via a Note Verbale on Monday, was confirmed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, which declined to comment further on the matter.
“We confirm that we have received a Note Verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission today in connection with an extradition request. At this time, we have no comment to offer on this matter,” an Indian government spokesperson said.
The Bangladeshi interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, plans to prosecute Hasina for her alleged involvement in mass killings during student-led protests in July and August 2024, which resulted in her ouster. Hasina faces 51 criminal cases, including 42 for murder, according to Bangladeshi officials, as per BSS reports.
“We will seek the return of the fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina from India,” Yunus said, adding that he has consulted Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, on the legal framework for her trial.
The request is based on the 2013 Bangladesh-India extradition treaty, amended in 2016, which permits extradition for crimes such as murder but excludes politically motivated offenses. The treaty allows refusals if charges are deemed not made in good faith or if they lack a genuine pursuit of justice.
Md Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), announced plans to seek an arrest warrant for Hasina. The government intends to use the treaty to ensure accountability for the alleged human rights violations during her administration.
Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, following mass protests that led to the collapse of her government. The protests, driven by student movements, accused her administration of abuses of power and suppression of dissent.
Yunus, who assumed leadership as part of an interim administration, has pledged to hold former leaders accountable for their actions.
