Bangladesh Demands India Extradite Sheikh Hasina Following Death Sentence for Crimes Against Humanity

Right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami has joined calls for India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh's interim government on Monday formally requested India to immediately surrender deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal following their sentencing to death in absentia for "crimes against humanity."

"We urge the Indian government to immediately hand over these two convicted individuals to the Bangladeshi authorities," stated the Foreign Ministry according to the state-run BSS news agency.

The ministry emphasized that the existing bilateral extradition agreement between Bangladesh and India makes transferring the two convicts a mandatory obligation for New Delhi.

Additionally, the ministry warned that providing shelter to individuals convicted of crimes against humanity would be viewed as an "unfriendly" act and disregard for justice.

The International Crimes Tribunal-Bangladesh (ICT-BD) sentenced Hasina and Kamal to death in absentia on Monday for "crimes against humanity" during last year's student uprising.

Hasina has resided in India since fleeing Bangladesh on August 5 last year amid massive protests. The court previously declared her a fugitive. Khan is also believed to be in India.

In December 2023, Bangladesh sent India a note verbale requesting Hasina's extradition. India acknowledged receipt of the formal diplomatic note but offered no further comment.

The foreign ministry's statement emphasized that surrendering the two is "a mandatory obligation for India" according to the extradition treaty between both nations.

In a separate statement, Legal Adviser Asif Nazrul indicated that the interim government would again formally request India to extradite Hasina.

"If India continues to shelter this mass murderer, then India must understand that it is an act of hostility...," Nazrul told the Bangla-language daily Prothom Alo.

Nazrul characterized Hasina's death sentence as the "greatest event of establishing justice on the soil of Bangladesh." He added, "I am not surprised by the verdict. Given the fresh, irrefutable and strong evidence of crimes against humanity committed by Hasina and her associates, they should be given the maximum punishment if tried in any court in the world."

Former premier Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party criticized India for sheltering "fugitive" Hasina.

"India has given shelter to a fugitive criminal. But the country is giving her the chance to do sabotage against Bangladesh, and this is not lawful behavior from India. This is very unfortunate," stated BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, as reported by the Daily Star newspaper.

At a press conference, the BNP leader argued that a country like India, which champions democracy and maintains an independent judiciary, should not permit Hasina to engage in improper activities.

Right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami also called on India to extradite Hasina.

"If one claims to behave as a good neighbor, if one aspires to maintain friendly relations, this is their foremost responsibility," said Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar regarding Hasina's extradition.

"We demand that she be returned to Bangladesh," he emphasized.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Member-Secretary Akhter Hossain stated that Hasina's death sentence represents "appropriate justice."

He urged both the Bangladesh government to swiftly implement the verdict and the Indian government to return her to Dhaka.

"We call upon the Government of India not to give refuge to Sheikh Hasina. She carried out genocide against the people of Bangladesh and committed crimes against humanity. India must hand her over to Bangladesh's justice system," he declared in a video message.