Dhaka has officially requested New Delhi to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who sought refuge in India in August amidst protests that led to the end of her 15-year rule.
Bangladesh has informed India of its desire to have former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to New Delhi in August, returned to the country for legal proceedings, stated the acting head of the country’s foreign ministry.
“We have sent a note verbale to the Indian government expressing the Bangladesh government’s request for her [Hasina] return for legal procedures,” Touhid Hossain told journalists on Monday, referring to the diplomatic communication between the two nations.
Hossain did not provide details on the legal procedures.
“We confirm that we have received a note verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission today regarding an extradition request. Currently, we have no comment to make on this matter,” stated the official spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Relations between the South Asian neighbors, who have strong trade and cultural ties, have soured since Hasina was ousted following violent protests against her leadership, leading her to seek refuge across the border.
The head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has urged India to repatriate Hasina so that Bangladesh can prosecute her for alleged crimes against protesters, opponents, and offenses she is accused of committing during her 15-year tenure.
Yunus has also expressed displeasure with Hasina for criticizing his administration from New Delhi.
Dhaka’s extradition request to New Delhi comes two weeks after India’s foreign secretary visited Bangladesh, with both countries expressing hopes of improving relations.
Hasina is facing multiple charges, including crimes against humanity, genocide, and murder, all of which she has denied.
Following the collapse of her regime in August, dozens of Hasina’s allies have been arrested, accused of involvement in a police crackdown that resulted in the deaths of over 750 individuals, predominantly young people, during the unrest that led to her removal.
Hasina has also called for an inquiry into the killings, suggesting that many deaths may have involved individuals beyond security forces.
The International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and her close associates, with the government seeking Interpol’s assistance in her apprehension.
Additionally, on Monday, Bangladesh initiated an investigation into alleged misappropriation of $5 billion linked to the Rooppur nuclear power plant, a Russian-backed project, by Hasina and her family, as stated by the country’s anti-corruption commission.
“The allegations of kickbacks, financial misconduct, money laundering, and potential abuse of power raise serious concerns about the project’s integrity and the use of public funds,” the commission remarked.
