Bangladesh Initiates Extradition Process for Former PM Sheikh Hasina

Monday 09 September 2024 - 17:30

In a significant development, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has formally commenced the process to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. This move marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing diplomatic and legal tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi.

Mohammad Tajul Islam, the chief prosecutor of the ICT, announced on Sunday that the legal framework to return Hasina to Bangladesh has been activated. The former leader is sought to stand trial for alleged atrocities committed during her administration, which ended in August amid mass protests and a violent crackdown by authorities.

Following the upheaval, Hasina sought asylum in India, arriving near New Delhi via military helicopter on August 5. This asylum has complicated diplomatic relations between the two nations, raising the possibility of a diplomatic rift as Bangladesh seeks her return.

Islam detailed that Hasina is accused of orchestrating “massacres” during the unrest prior to her ouster. The ICT was established in 2010, under Hasina’s own government, to address war crimes from the 1971 independence conflict with Pakistan. The tribunal’s current focus is on the alleged human rights abuses during Hasina’s tenure.

“The legal process to secure her extradition has commenced, backed by the extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India, signed in 2013,” Islam stated. “Our aim is to bring her back to face justice.”

The ICT’s move is buoyed by the fact that the extradition treaty, although comprehensive, includes a clause that could exempt extradition if the charges are deemed political. Despite this, Bangladeshi officials have expressed a strong commitment to overcoming such obstacles and securing Hasina’s return.

The exiled leader, now 76, has remained out of the public eye since her departure. Bangladesh has rescinded her diplomatic passport, further complicating her status.

Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus, who assumed office following the upheaval, has publicly urged Hasina to remain silent while in India, emphasizing that her continued asylum should not hinder her eventual return for trial. Yunus’s stance reflects significant domestic pressure and rising anti-India sentiment within Bangladesh.

Opposition figures, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have also voiced support for Hasina’s trial in Bangladesh, adding to the growing diplomatic strain between Dhaka and New Delhi.

As Bangladesh pushes forward with its legal and diplomatic efforts, the international community watches closely, with implications for regional relations and justice on the line.