Bangladesh Demands India's Extradition of Fugitive Former PM Sheikh Hasina
In a move that has further strained relations between Bangladesh and India, Dhaka has once again urged New Delhi to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was recently sentenced to death for her role in the deadly crackdown on student-led protests last year.
The sentence, handed down by a special International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka, marks a significant milestone in the trial of Hasina, who has been in hiding in India since 2024. The court's verdict has sparked widespread outrage in Bangladesh, with many viewing it as a travesty of justice that allows her to avoid punishment.
Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry has repeatedly emphasized its obligation to bring Hasina back to face justice under the terms of their bilateral extradition treaty signed in 2013. In doing so, Dhaka is framing India's refusal to extradite her as an act of "grave unfriendly behaviour" and a clear breach of international law.
India, however, has thus far declined to comment on the prospect of Hasina's extradition, despite noting the verdict in its statement. The move has been interpreted by many as a sign that New Delhi is willing to defy international pressure over its ties with the embattled former leader.
The relations between Bangladesh and India have indeed deteriorated since the ouster of Hasina, but recent attempts at reconciliation appear to be bearing fruit. A visit from Dhaka's National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman to meet his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval has been seen as a positive development in bridging the gap.
With general elections set to take place in Bangladesh, Hasina's party, the Awami League, faces a significant challenge. The former leader's involvement in the deadly protests and her role in the subsequent crackdown have made her a polarizing figure in Bangladeshi politics. As the country navigates its transition towards democracy, the fate of its most prominent figure remains uncertain.
In a move that has further strained relations between Bangladesh and India, Dhaka has once again urged New Delhi to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was recently sentenced to death for her role in the deadly crackdown on student-led protests last year.
The sentence, handed down by a special International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka, marks a significant milestone in the trial of Hasina, who has been in hiding in India since 2024. The court's verdict has sparked widespread outrage in Bangladesh, with many viewing it as a travesty of justice that allows her to avoid punishment.
Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry has repeatedly emphasized its obligation to bring Hasina back to face justice under the terms of their bilateral extradition treaty signed in 2013. In doing so, Dhaka is framing India's refusal to extradite her as an act of "grave unfriendly behaviour" and a clear breach of international law.
India, however, has thus far declined to comment on the prospect of Hasina's extradition, despite noting the verdict in its statement. The move has been interpreted by many as a sign that New Delhi is willing to defy international pressure over its ties with the embattled former leader.
The relations between Bangladesh and India have indeed deteriorated since the ouster of Hasina, but recent attempts at reconciliation appear to be bearing fruit. A visit from Dhaka's National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman to meet his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval has been seen as a positive development in bridging the gap.
With general elections set to take place in Bangladesh, Hasina's party, the Awami League, faces a significant challenge. The former leader's involvement in the deadly protests and her role in the subsequent crackdown have made her a polarizing figure in Bangladeshi politics. As the country navigates its transition towards democracy, the fate of its most prominent figure remains uncertain.
...I feel kinda bad for her, I mean she was involved in some pretty rough stuff, but at the same time, it does seem unfair that she's dodging justice and India's not talking about it 
. But on the other hand, Bangladesh is super upset and it's not looking good for their relations with India...what if India just doesn't wanna deal with all the drama? 
! How can India just ignore Bangladesh's demands for extradition? It's like they're saying "Hey, we don't care about justice or international law" 
! The fact that Hasina is still in hiding while her country is going through a democratic transition is just wild 
. And the Indian government's silence on this matter is deafening... it's like they're covering their tracks or something? 
They're not backing down, even though India's refusing to cooperate. It's like, I get it, the trial was intense and all that, but extradition is a thing... come on! 
The general elections are coming up in Bangladesh, and it's like Hasina's fate is being held hostage by India's refusal to cooperate.
. How can you have an election with someone who's basically been given a free pass to avoid accountability? It's not right 
. I hope the international community starts taking notice and putting some pressure on India to do the right thing 
!
meanwhile in bangladesh people are LIVING FOR THIS 
it's like the whole country is united against india, and rightly so, hasina was involved in some pretty heinous stuff last year 
but at the same time i feel bad for the poor lady, she's been hiding out in india for ages now 
anyway this extradition thing is going to get ugly, mark my words 