The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of Bangladesh has sent an “official letter” to New Delhi seeking the extradition of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, days after the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) sentenced her to death.
Bangladesh has now sent three letters to India asking for Hasina’s return after she fled Dhaka when Islamists hijacked student-led quota reform agitations, which later turned violent.
According to Prothom Alo, a prominent Bangladeshi news portal, Dhaka had already dispatched two letters to India in December 2024, urging New Delhi to send Hasina back to face trial for her alleged crimes.
The development regarding the latest communication was announced by the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) on Sunday.
The agency reported that the new letter was sent on Friday, confirming the information through foreign affairs adviser Touhid Hossain, who declined to provide further details.
On November 17, the special tribunal handed Hasina, 78, the death sentence along with former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on charges of committing “crimes against humanity”. Both were tried in absentia while staying in India.
The third accused in the case, former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, who appeared in person, received a five-year jail term after turning “approver” and testifying as a state witness.
Hours after the ICT-BD verdict was delivered last week, the External Affairs Ministry issued a statement saying “India has noted the verdict announced by the ‘International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh’ concerning former prime minister Sheikh Hasina”.
“As a close neighbour, India remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country. We will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end,” the statement read.
Hasina’s government was toppled in a student-led violent protest termed as the ‘July Uprising’ on August 5 last year.
Three days later, Nobel Laureate Yunus flew from Paris at the call of the protesting students to assume the charge of the interim government as its chief adviser.
