Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to New Delhi during the wave of student-led protests sweeping her country. The interim government, currently led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is acting on accusations against Hasina for her alleged role in violent uprisings and deaths during her regime.
According to Md Touhid Hossain, Bangladesh's foreign affairs adviser, the country sent a diplomatic note to India's Foreign Ministry, seeking Hasina’s return for judicial processes. "We have informed India about our request to bring her back for the judicial process," Hossain stated during a press briefing at his office in Dhaka.
Although India confirmed the receipt of this note verbale, it refrained from commenting on the extradition request. India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, acknowledged, "We confirm the receipt of the note verbale today related to the extradition request for Sheikh Hasina. At this time, we have no comment to offer on this matter." This non-committal response leaves ambiguity about how India will proceed under the extradition treaty signed between the two nations.
The timing of this request is notable as it follows Hasina’s flight from Bangladesh on August 5, after being ousted amid mass protests which reportedly resulted in hundreds of fatalities. Those protests, driven heavily by university students, concluded her 15-year governance, prompting serious accusations against her administration.
Adding to the tension, allegations against Hasina include several court cases revolving around crimes she purportedly committed during the protests, many of which are categorized as crimes against humanity. The Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal has issued arrest warrants not only for her but also for several close aides.
Reflecting on this extradition request, Sajeeb Wazed, Hasina’s son, called the tribunal’s workings politically motivated, denouncing it as “a political witch hunt” during discussions on social media. Wazed asserted, “The judges and prosecutors appointed by unelected...regime to conduct farcical trial processes through the International Crimes Tribunal make it a political witch hunt.” He argues this presents another chapter of hardship, noting the alleged extrajudicial killings and illegal detentions occurring under the Yunus-led interim government.
Yunus has made it clear since coming to power, he intends to see Hasina held accountable. He stated last month, “We will seek the return of the fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina from India,” emphasizing his administration's intent to prosecute those accountable for the violence resulting from the student-led uprising.
The extradition agreement between India and Bangladesh, initially established in 2013 and modified later, includes clauses allowing for refusal should the charges be deemed politically motivated. One restriction indicates, “extradition may be refused if the offence is of a political character.” This provision was put forward as Hasina and her political supporters argue the legal actions against her stem from political vendettas rather than genuine justice.
Further complicators include widespread international concern, as highlighted by Human Rights Watch, which recently urged the Bangladesh government to halt capital punishment and amend laws to maintain fairness within the judicial framework concerning the tribunal’s proceedings. Their statement emphasized the necessity for reforms before any extradition processes should be carried out.”
The relationship between Bangladesh and India has shown strains recently, as Yunus’s interim government addresses not only the issue of Hasina’s return but also broader concerns related to minority welfare and human rights violations amid rising political tensions.
Key to the discussion is whether India views this as merely another request triggered by political instability or if New Delhi will engage more deeply with the legal and diplomatic ramifications underpinning the extradition request. Any decision will significantly impact bilateral relations and broader regional stability.
Meanwhile, the political discourse surrounding the situation continues to evolve. The impact of having Hasina returned to Bangladesh, whether through extradition or other arrangements, could ignite additional unrest or reconciliation efforts moving forward.
While the interim leaders push for judicial accountability of the former prime minister, with prominent calls for international cooperation and oversight, the sleeping political giant remains to be seen: the resolute sentiments of the Bangladeshi populace, who have faced the tumultuous shifts from Hasina’s leadership to the current interim government.
