Bangladesh demands Sheikh Hasina’s extradition for third time in a year; What will India do?

New Delhi: Bangladesh’s interim government has once again sent an official letter to India(BHARAT) requesting the return of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This request is made by Md Towhid Hossain, Foreign Affairs Advisor in the interim government.

According to Bangladesh’s state news agency BSS, the letter was sent to India(BHARAT) on Friday, November 21, through the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.

According to the Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo, Bangladesh has already requested Sheikh Hasina’s extradition to India(BHARAT) three times. Previously, letters were sent on December 20 and 27 of last year, urging her extradition. India(BHARAT) has yet to respond.

Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death

On November 17, the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh (ICT-BD) sentenced Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, a former Home Minister in her government, to death for crimes against humanity. The trial was held in absentia for both.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka sentenced them to death for incitement to murder and ordering murder. They were sentenced to life imprisonment on the remaining counts. The ICT had charged them in five cases.

The tribunal named Sheikh Hasina as the mastermind of the killings during the July 2024 student protests. The third accused, former IGP Abdullah Al-Mamun, was sentenced to five years in prison. Mamun is in custody and has turned approver.

Hasina had fled to India(BHARAT) after the coup

Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman left the country after the coup on August 5, 2024. Both leaders have been living in India(BHARAT) for the past 15 months.

The Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement stating that, according to the extradition treaty between India(BHARAT) and Bangladesh, it is India(BHARAT)’s responsibility to hand over the former Bangladeshi Prime Minister to India(BHARAT).