Bangladesh Seeks Extradition of Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed for prosecution following her flight to India on August 5, 2024. The request was communicated through a diplomatic note, or note verbale, as confirmed by Acting Foreign Minister Tawhid Hussain. This development comes shortly after Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's visit to Bangladesh, indicating ongoing diplomatic discussions between the two nations.
The Indian foreign ministry acknowledged receipt of the extradition request but refrained from providing further comments at this time. This request follows the issuance of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court in Dhaka last October, targeting Sheikh Hasina and approximately 50 other leaders from the former ruling Awami League party. These warrants are linked to allegations of human rights abuses, including the killing of demonstrators during protests that led to her resignation and subsequent departure from Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina, now 76, has faced serious accusations of extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions of political opponents during her tenure. Her escape to India was marked by a helicopter flight amid escalating protests and civil unrest in Bangladesh, highlighting the political turmoil that has engulfed the nation.
