The interim government of Bangladesh has sent a diplomatic note urging India to send ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina back to Dhaka. The 77-year-old Awami League leader has been living in India since August 5, when she fled Bangladesh amid mass protests that toppled her 16-year-old rule and forced her to flee.
The Dhaka-based International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants in the names of Sheikh Hasina and her ministers, advisers and former military and civilian officials, charging them with “crimes against humanity and genocide”.
“We have sent a note verbale (diplomatic message) to the Indian government saying that Bangladesh wants him back here for the judicial process,” Tauheed Hossain, adviser on foreign affairs in the interim government, told reporters.
Earlier, Home Advisor Jahangir Alam said his office has sent a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs here to facilitate Ms Hasina’s extradition. “We have sent a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs regarding his extradition. The process is currently underway,” he told the media.
Mr Alam said an extradition treaty exists between Dhaka and New Delhi, under that arrangement Ms Hasina could be taken back to Bangladesh.
The diplomatic communication demanding Sheikh Hasina’s return comes weeks after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Bangladesh and spoke to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser in the interim government. Speaking to reporters in Dhaka, Mr Misri had said he had a frank, candid and constructive exchange of views with his interlocutors and discussed all issues of “extremely important bilateral relations”. He said India had also raised the issue of attacks on minorities, including Hindus, with Bangladesh leaders.
A statement from the Chief Advisor’s Office said Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India was also discussed. The chief advisor had then said, “Our people are worried because she is making many statements from there. This creates tension.”
Ahead of the Foreign Secretary’s visit, Ms Hasina hit out at the interim government and accused Muhammad Yunus of running a “fascist regime”. In a virtual address to Awami League supporters in London, he alleged that Muhammad Yunus was the “mastermind” behind the political turmoil that ended his rule.
“Since August 5, there have been large-scale attacks on places of worship of minorities, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists. We condemn this. Jamaat and terrorists are getting a free hand under the new regime,” he said. He said, “Bangladesh is now in the grip of fascist rule, where people’s democratic rights have been abolished. The achievements of our government under the leadership of Yunus in poverty alleviation and infrastructure development, strengthening democracy are coming to an end. “
