Bangladesh on Monday sent note verbale or a diplomatic note to India as they sought the return of deposed PM S🐟heikh Hasina. India confirmed receiving the diplomatic communication from the neighbouring country but refused to comment on it.
On A🐓ꦿugust 5, 2024, when a series of student-led protests across Bangladesh led to the fall of Hasina's 16-year regime, the Prime Minister fled the country and sought refuge in India.
Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)📖 has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former Cabinet ministers, advisers, and military and civil officials for "crimes against humanity and genocide".
Under the provisions of the India-Bangladesh extradition treaty, extradition may be ref𝓀used if the offence is one of a "political character".
Another clause reportedly stated that a person convicted of an extradition offence may not be extra🌸dited unless the person was sentenced to imprisonment or other form of detention for a p♔eriod of four months or more.
The rel🍒ations between India and Bangladesh ♛came under strain after the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus came to power.
India has been expressing concerns over a♚ttacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in that country.
PTI said that Foreign Affairs Adviser or de facto foreign minister Touhid Hossain told reporters at his office, “We have sent a note verbale (diplomatic message) to the Indian government saying that Bangl𓂃adesh wants her back here for the jud♊icial process."
Earlier in the morning, Home Advisor Jahangir Alam said his office has sent a letter to the foreign ministry to facilitate the ousted♛ premier's extradition from India.
“We have sent a letter to the foreign ministry regarding her extradition. The process is currently underway,” he told reporters in respo⭕nse to a query.
Alam also said an extradition treaty between Dhaka and New Delhi already exists and Hasina could be brought back﷽ to Bangladesh under the treaty.
How did India React?
In New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: "We confirm that we h🌸ave received a Note Verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission today in connection with 🌠an extradition request."
"At this time, we have෴ no comment to offer on this matter," he said, in response to a question.
Yunus On Hasina's Extradition
Last month, in an address to the nation on the completion of 100 days of th🐷e interim government, Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Yunus said it will seek the extradition of Hasina.
"We must ensure just𒁃ice in every killing… We will also ask India to send back🌟 fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina," he said.
Yunus, who assumed office on August 8, claimed that about 1,500 people, including students and workers, were killed while 19,931 others w♔ere wounded during the protest against the Hasina government.
(With PTI inputs)
