The government is considering approaching the International Criminal Court to seek the extradition of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman, both of whom have been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising.
Law adviser Asif Nazrul on Thursday revealed the information at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital after a meeting of the councilor of advisers with chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair at his Tejgaon office in Dhaka.
A decision, he said, will soon be taken on whether any kind of 鈥榓pproach鈥� can be made to the ICC to bring back these two convicts.
Besides, a letter is being sent to India to send back Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, he said.
Since they (Hasina and Asaduzzaman) are now convicted, the government聽 believes that India has an increased responsibility to return them, he said.
He also said that the letter would remind India of fulfilling its obligations under the extradition treaty so that the long-standing will of the people of Bangladesh for justice can be implemented.
Bangladesh national security adviser Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday discussed 鈥榢ey bilateral issues鈥� with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval in New Delhi amid Dhaka鈥檚 renewed call for the extradition of Hasina sheltered in India.
Neither the Bangladesh mission in Delhi nor the Bangladesh foreign ministry made it clear whether the issue of extradition of Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the Awami League, and Asaduzzaman Khan was discussed at the meeting.
Khalilur left Dhaka for New Delhi on Tuesday evening to join the NSA-level Colombo Security Conclave in November 19-20.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday sentenced Hasina and Asaduzzaman to death for committing crimes against humanity during the July鈥揂ugust 2024 mass uprising that ousted the Hasina-led regime on August 5 past year.
Following the verdict, the Bangladesh government on Monday called on the Indian government to extradite Hasina and Asaduzzaman, both in India now.
Dhaka in a statement also reminded New Delhi of the extradition treaty between the two countries for its compliance in the case.
Foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain told reporters at his office on Monday that India was yet to respond to Dhaka鈥檚 formal requests over the past 11 months for extraditing Hasina who fled to India for shelter on August 5, 2024 amid the student-led mass uprising.
Asked about the despatch of the letter to Delhi seeking the extradition of Hasina and Asaduzzaman, both foreign adviser Touhid and foreign secretary Asad Alam Siam on Thursday kept mum on the issue as the ministry was supposedly sent the letter by Tuesday.聽
Meanwhile, the Indian external affairs ministry in a statement posted on its web site on Monday said, 鈥楢s a close neighbour, India remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country. We will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end.鈥�
On December 23, 2024, the foreign ministry sent a note verbale to its Indian counterpart, requesting the extradition of Hasina who is facing charges of crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising, including many murders.
Hasina鈥檚 ouster from power led to the formation of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus on August 8, 2024.
