Bangladesh wants India to extradite Sheikh Hasina after her conviction, death sentence
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Bangladesh foreign ministry on Monday noted that after the conviction of Ex Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and India granting asylum to them would be a “highly objectionable act and a violation of international norms and principles of justice.”
Bangladesh Foreign Ministry on Monday asked India to ensure both the leaders are returned to the authorities in Bangladesh shortly after former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal were sentenced to death for “committing crimes against humanity”.
The ministry called upon the Government of India to ensure that “these convicted fugitives are returned to the authorities of Bangladesh without offering them any form of asylum.”
It invoked the existing extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh, the ministry noted that it is “India’s legal obligation to extradite them to Bangladesh”.
India has also noted the death sentence awarded to Sheikh Hasina.
In a statement shared by the Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, New Delhi said that it remains committed to the best interest of Bangladesh and its people.
“As a close neighbour, India remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country. We will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end,” the MEA spokesperson said.
The development came hours after the International Criminal Tribunal in Bangladesh found Hasina and Kamal guilty on all five charges of crimes against humanity.
The ICT concluded that Hasina and two other co-accused, former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, had ordered the use of lethal weapons against student protesters during the July-August 2024 uprising against Hasina-led Awami League government.
“Accused PM Sheikh Hasina committed crimes against humanity by her incitement order and also failed to take preventive and punitive measures under charge 1,” the tribunal said.
“Accused Sheikh Hasina committed one count of crimes against humanity by her order to use drones, helicopters, and lethal weapons under charge number 2,” it announced the death sentence to the former prime minister.
Former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was also convicted but handed over a reduced sentence of five years in prision as he had pleaded guilty and turned state witness against Hasina and Kamal.
Hasina was ousted from power on August 5, 2024, following violent protests led by young students.
She had fled to India in a military helicopter moments before an angry mob ravaged her residence.
Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who was the home minister under the Hasina-led Awami League government, is also believed to have been living in India since then.
