Dhaka sent a formal request to New Delhi to extradite Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August amid protests that ended her 15-year rule.
Bangladesh has told India it wants former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to New Delhi in August, back in the country for “judicial process”, says the acting head of the country’s foreign ministry.
We sent a note verbale to the Indian government saying that the Bangladesh government wants her [Hasina] back here for the judicial process,” Touhid Hossain told reporters on Monday, referring to diplomatic correspondence between the two countries.
“We confirm that we received a note verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission today concerning an extradition request. At this time, we have no comment to offer on this matter,” the official spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs said.
Ties between the South Asian neighbours, who have strong trade and cultural links, have become fraught since Hasina was deposed following violent protests against her rule, and she took refuge across the border.
The head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has called for India to return Hasina so that Bangladesh can prosecute her for what it says are crimes against protesters and her opponents and crimes she is accused of committing during her tenure over the past 15 years.
