On Tuesday, Bangladesh’s main opposition party, the BNP, called on India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to face trial in Bangladesh. Hasina, who fled the country on August 5 amid a student-led uprising, is facing charges of murder and other crimes. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the appeal in Dhaka while paying tribute to the party’s founder, Ziaur Rahman.
Alamgir emphasized that allowing Hasina to remain in India contradicts the country’s commitment to democratic principles. He accused Hasina of plotting against the revolution in Bangladesh from her refuge in India.
Bangladesh and India have an extradition treaty that obligates both countries to extradite individuals facing court proceedings for “extraditable crimes,” including those punishable by at least a year in prison. The BNP, which saw its chairperson and former PM Khaleda Zia released from house arrest after Hasina’s departure, argues that the charges against Hasina, including murder and extortion, fall under this category.
However, the treaty does not apply to cases deemed “political,” though serious crimes like murder are typically excluded from this exemption. India could potentially refuse the extradition request under Article 8 of the treaty, which allows for refusals if the request is deemed not made in good faith or not in the interest of justice.
Alamgir alleged that Hasina’s party, the Awami League, continues to conspire in New Delhi to undermine the achievements of Bangladeshi students and citizens. He asserted that India’s support for Hasina could damage its standing with the Bangladeshi people. In response, the Awami League has dismissed the charges against Hasina as “false and politically motivated” and criticized the interim government of Bangladesh.
