Dhaka: Bangladesh’s interim government said it has sent a formal note to India seeking the extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Bangladesh-based International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has already issued an arrest warrant for Hasina who has been living in exile in India since August 5 when she was forced to quit and flee the country following massive nationwide anti-government protests.
“We have sent a note verbale to the Indian government saying that Bangladesh wants her back here for the judicial process,” Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain said.
Home Advisor Jahangir Alam also confirmed that his office has sent a letter to New Delhi to facilitate Hasina’s extradition. He pointed out that an extradition treaty already exists between the two countries.
India has not yet made any official statements on the reports.
Bangladesh interim government’s head Muhammad Yunus had said last month that the country would seek the extradition of the ousted prime minister.
“We must ensure justice in every killing We will also ask India to send back fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina,” he had said.
The relations between India and Bangladesh nosedived after the fall of Hasina government with reports of rampant attacks on religious minorities emerging from the neighbouring country. India has voiced its concerns during the visit of foreign secretary Vikram Misri to Dhaka, though Bangladesh has been accusing the Indian media of exaggerating the situation.
Dhaka had also raised strong protests over Hasina’s recent remarks that the Yunus-led interim government was perpetrating “genocide” in Bangladesh.
