Bangladesh formally requests extradition of former PM from India News
DelwarHossain, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bangladesh formally requests extradition of former PM from India

Bangladesh informed media on Monday that it had that requested India extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in exile since fleeing the country in August, following widespread protests that led to her removal from office as Prime Minister.

The request was formally communicated to the Indian government through a diplomatic note, known as a note verbale. Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser, Touhid Hossain, confirmed the move to media, emphasizing that the government is seeking Hasina’s return to face judicial proceedings related to various allegations against her. India has acknowledged receiving the extradition request but has so far declined to comment on how it plans to respond.

The extradition request is facilitated by an existing extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh, which permits the transfer of fugitives under specific conditions. The treaty stipulates that both countries must agree on the extradition, contingent upon meeting certain legal criteria. Additionally, on Monday, Bangladesh’s anti-corruption commission announced plans to launch an investigation into allegations that Sheikh Hasina and her family misappropriated $5 billion linked to a Russian-backed nuclear power plant project.

Hasina was ousted from her position as prime minister of Bangladesh following widespread protests that erupted in August. The demonstrations were primarily led by students and were fueled by public discontent over various issues, including a controversial job quota system. As protests escalated into violent confrontations, security forces responded with force, resulting in significant casualties — with over 750 deaths and thousands of injuries reported.

The former prime minister fled to India on August 5, 2024, seeking refuge after her government was toppled. Since her departure, Hasina has faced numerous legal challenges, including allegations of crimes against humanity related to the violent crackdown on protesters and enforced disappearances during her tenure. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka has issued arrest warrants for her and several associates, prompting the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus to request her formal extradition from India for judicial proceedings.

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