The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a diplomatic letter to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in an effort to bring former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina back.
“We have informed India,” Foreign Affairs Adviser MdTouhidHossain told reporters on Monday, referring to the note verbale addressed to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
On December 8, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary ShafiqulAlam said they would formally approach India seeking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s extradition after completing the required legal procedures.
“Our government’s position on the extradition of Sheikh Hasina is very clear. We want to bring Sheikh Hasina back to the country to face the law,” he said during a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy.
The interim government claims that Hasina was the key person who passed the order in the “massacre” that took place during her tenure, killing more than 1,500 people in July-August.
Bangladesh has an extradition treaty with India.
In September, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should be extradited and brought to justice if she committed crimes.
“Why shouldn’t she be? If she committed crimes, she should be extradited and brought to justice… She should be facing justice too,” he said while responding to a question at “The New York Times Climate Forward Event.”
On November 12, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Advocate MdTajul Islam wrote to Inspector General of Police MdMoinul Islam, urging the issuance of a red notice through Interpol to secure the return of Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives.
Earlier, on October 17, a three-member ICT bench led by its Chairman, Justice MdGolamMortuzaMazumdar, issued arrest warrants for 46 people, including Sheikh Hasina and former minister ObaidulQuader, in separate cases.
Among SAARC member countries, India has extradition treaties with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, as well as an extradition arrangement with Sri Lanka.
In July 2016, Bangladesh and India amended Article 10 (3) of their bilateral Extradition Treaty to facilitate the swift extradition of fugitive criminals between the two nations.
Sheikh Hasina is facing multiple charges, including murder, following the formation of an interim government on August 8, after her resignation on August 5.