GUWAHATI: Bangladesh's interim government announced on Monday, December 23, that it has formally requested India to return deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Dhaka. Hasina, 77, has been in exile in India since August 5, when she fled amid student-led protests that led to the collapse of her 16-year rule. The Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former officials, including Cabinet ministers, advisers, and military and civil personnel, on charges of "crimes against humanity and genocide", as per reports.
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Touhid Hossain, the Foreign Affairs Adviser, or effectively the Foreign Minister, confirmed to reporters that a diplomatic note had been sent to India requesting Hasina’s return for legal proceedings in Bangladesh. "We have sent a note verbale [diplomatic message] to the Indian government, asking for her return to Bangladesh for the judicial process," Hossain said.
Earlier on Monday, Home Advisor Jahangir Alam also stated that his office had sent a letter to the Foreign Ministry to initiate Hasina’s extradition from India. "We have sent a letter regarding her extradition. The process is currently underway," Alam told the media. He added that there is an existing extradition treaty between Dhaka and New Delhi, under which Hasina could be returned to Bangladesh.
