
Dhaka/New Delhi: Bangladesh has stepped up the campaign to bring former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, with Law Adviser Asif Nazrul saying on Tuesday that refusal by India would be a violation of the bilateral extradition treaty. Bangladesh is prepared to seek international pressure if needed, Nazrul said while addressing a press conference in Dhaka.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh has issued arrest warrants for Sheikh Hasina, along with several of her former ministers, advisers, and officials, accusing them of “crimes against humanity and genocide.”
We have sent an extradition request to India. If India does not extradite Sheikh Hasina, it will be a clear violation of the extradition treaty between the two nations,” Nazrul said. He underlined the fact that MoFA is seeking options for an amicable settlement on the global level.
Nazrul disclosed that a red alert has been issued in connection with Hasina’s case. “The government is doing everything in its power to bring Sheikh Hasina back to face justice. If required, we will seek international support,” he added.
The extradition request, in the form of a note verbale—an unsigned diplomatic communication—was submitted by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on December 23. However, India has yet to respond to the request, raising concerns in Dhaka.
Bangladesh’s call for Hasina’s extradition is likely to test the diplomatic ties between the two South Asian neighbors. Experts believe that Dhaka’s decision to take the matter to the international community might force New Delhi to act in keeping with the treaty.
Extradition treaty that two nations sign facilitates transfer of people sought for legal procedure. Such extradition requests are more often influenced by diplomatic considerations and geopolitical interests, however.
Nazrul hinted that Bangladesh is prepared to take the issue before global forums if India goes unyielding. “It is a matter of justice and accountability. And the government is true to its word: no one will get away with crimes against humanity,” said Nazrul.
Sheikh Hasina, who has been a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s political landscape for decades, has consistently denied the allegations against her, calling them politically motivated.
As the situation develops, all eyes remain on New Delhi’s response and the potential ramifications for India-Bangladesh relations.
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