New Delhi has not yet responded to Dhaka鈥檚 request for the extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India for shelter on August 5, 2024 amid a student-led mass uprising, although 10 months have elapsed.
A Bangladesh senior foreign ministry official on Wednesday confirmed that they did not receive any response from the Indian side to its request for sending back Sheikh Hasina.
Hasina is facing trials at the International Crimes Tribunal for committing crimes against humanity during the July uprising.
The official seeking not to be named said that they had sent all necessary documents with a note verbale to the Indian government to extradite Sheikh Hasina in December following the ICT warrant for her arrest, but had not yet received any response from New Delhi.
The issue was still under process, said the official, confirming that the ministry did not give any reminder in this regard.
Asked about other members of Hasina鈥檚 cabinet accused in the ICT cases for July atrocities and hiding in India, the foreign ministry officials said that they had requested the extradition of Hasina only as they had no confirmation about others hiding in India.
On October 28, foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain said that Bangladesh sought extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina following legal aspects and subsequent court order but did not get any reply from the Indian side.
鈥榃e have followed the legal aspect that we have and we have asked them to return her as per the court order. Let them look into it. They are yet to reply,鈥� he told reporters while responding to a question at the foreign ministry on the day.聽
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 the ouster of her 15-year autocratic rule on August 5 leading to the formation of the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus on August 8, 2024.
