Will India extradite Sheikh Hasina? Bangladesh says 'hearing a political decision made not to return her'

Bangladesh interim government led by Muhammad Yunus claims that as per its ‘observation,’ India has made a ‘political decision’ not to return ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. ‘This is what we are hearing,’ said interim government adviser Mahfuj Alam

A Bangladeshi man walks past a photo of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka. Source: AFP.

Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh claimed it has heard that their request for the extradition of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina may be turned down by India.

Dhaka, on December 23, sent a note verbale to New Delhi demanding the handing over of former PM Hasina under an extradition treaty signed between the two countries in 2013, which was amended in 2016, providing a legal framework for such requests.

‘India won’t return Hasina’

Responding to a question from the media on whether the issue of Hasina’s extradition has been discussed or if they have any observations regarding her stay in India, Bangladesh’s interim government Adviser Mahfuj Alam said: “Our observation is that they have made a political decision that they will not return her. We are hearing as such.”

The response was made during a media interaction in Dhaka on Sunday after a foreign policy dialogue on “Establishing New Bangladesh: Internal Reforms and Foreign Policy.”

‘Rash actions are not an option’

Mahfuj further said, “However, from the state’s perspective, we must remain realistic. Rash actions are not an option.”

After sending a formal request to India for Hasina’s extradition, Bangladesh on December 24 said Dhaka would send a reminder about the issue in writing after waiting for a “certain period” if there was no reply received from New Delhi.

Bangladesh waits for India’s reply

India, meanwhile, has refrained from formally responding to Bangladesh’s extradition request, which was made on December 23 through a note verbale.

Spokesperson at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, last week, said that since there was no mention of time limit in the extradition treaty signed between Bangladesh and India, Yunus’ government “will wait for the reply” from New Delhi.

The extradition treaty between the two neighbouring countries was signed in 2013 and in July 2016, they amended Article 10 (3) of their bilateral Extradition Treaty to facilitate the swift extradition of fugitive criminals between them.

Now, Bangladesh cited this treaty as it sought Hasina’s extradition from India.

Why Bangladesh wants to extradite Hasina

After facing a mass uprising in her country, Hasina fled to India on August 5 and has been reportedly staying in the country since then.

As per Bangladesh interim government, Hasina has been facing over 100 cases with several charges ranging from including murder, genocide to crimes against humanity in charge of killings during the July uprising.

Back in 2010, the Hasina-led Awami League government in Bangladesh had formed the International Crimes Tribunal to try crimes against humanity cases during the 1971 Liberation War. Now, the interim government headed by Yunus has used the same tribunal to try allegations of “genocide” against the former PM and her party members for its alleged efforts to suppress the student-led mass movement in July and August this year.

On December 8, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said Bangladesh would formally approach India seeking Hasina’s extradition after completing the required legal procedures.

“Our government’s position on the extradition of Sheikh Hasina is very clear. We want to bring Sheikh Hasina back to the country to face the law,” he said.