Send Sheikh Hasina back otherwise…, Yunus government threatens India, will drag her away

New Delhi: The Mohammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh on Tuesday said it will continue its efforts to bring back ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India and will also seek international intervention if needed.

'Send back Sheikh Hasina'

According to a media report from Dhaka, Asif Nazrul, advisor on legal affairs in the interim government, told reporters at the secretariat here that if India refuses to send Hasina back, it will be a violation of the extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India. Sheikh Hasina who has been living in India since 5 August 2024 last year. She went to India after the 16-year-old Awami League (AL) government fell under the pressure of a major student movement.

Arrest warrant issued

Bangladesh's International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former cabinet ministers, advisers, military and civilian officials for “crimes against humanity and genocide”. Bangladesh had sent a diplomatic note to India last year demanding Hasina's extradition. Nazrul said, “We have written a letter for extradition. If India does not extradite Hasina, it will be a clear violation of the extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India. He said that in such a situation, the Ministry of External Affairs will take necessary steps to raise this matter before the international community. The legal advisor said that the Ministry of External Affairs is also making efforts and 'red alert' has already been issued.

threat of international support

Nazrul said, “We are doing everything we can. The government will continue all efforts to bring back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. If necessary, international support will be sought. According to the provisions of the India-Bangladesh Extradition Treaty, extradition can be refused if the offense is of 'political character'. According to another provision, a person cannot be extradited unless he has been sentenced to imprisonment or other form of detention for a period of four months or more. Also read…