The Bangladesh government on Monday once again called on the Indian government to extradite deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan.
The foreign ministry made the fresh call in a statement hours after an International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka handed down the death sentence to Hasina and Asaduzzaman for committing crimes against humanity during the July mass uprising that led to the fall of the authoritarian Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
Both Hasina and Asaduzzaman are now in hiding in India.
Dhaka also reminded New Delhi of the extradition treaty between the two countries for its compliance in the case.
鈥楽ince they are staying there, we will send a letter to India for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and Asduzzaman in a different context tonight or in the next morning as they are now convicted by the tribunal,鈥� foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain told reporters at his Segun Bagicha office in the capital.
He, however, said that India had not yet responded to Dhaka鈥檚 formal request for extraditing Hasina, who fled to India for shelter on August 5, 2024 amid a student-led mass uprising, in the past 11 months.
Meanwhile, India has noted the verdict announced by the 鈥業nternational Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh鈥� concerning former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
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� said the Indian external affairs ministry in a statement posted on its website later on the day.
Asked whether there was any possibility of raising the issue of Hasina鈥檚 extradition during national security adviser Khalilur Rahman鈥檚 visit to India this week, the foreign adviser said that he would not interfere in the security adviser鈥檚 agenda there.
Khalilur is scheduled to lead the Bangladesh delegation to the 7th NSA-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave in November 19-20 in the Indian capital, New Delhi.
Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval extended the invitation to Khalilur to attend the regional forum.
On December 23, 2024, the foreign ministry sent a note verbale to its Indian counterpart, requesting the extradition of Sheikh Hasina on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising, including scores of murder cases.
Hasina, also the Awami League president, has been staying in India since she fell from power and fled to India for shelter on August 5, 2024. Her ouster from power led to the formation of the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus on August 8, 2024.
