Bangladesh Urges India to Extradite Sheikh Hasina After Tribunal Sentences Her to Death

Dhaka, Nov 17 : The Bangladesh government on Monday formally requested India to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, after both were sentenced to death by the country’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for crimes against humanity linked to last year’s July Uprising.

In a strongly worded statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would be “extremely unfriendly and demeaning to justice” if any country granted asylum to the two leaders, who were both tried and convicted in absentia. The ICT verdict, delivered by a three-member bench headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, found Hasina and Kamal guilty of murder and other offences committed during the violent uprising.

Hasina has lived in exile in India since August 5 last year, fleeing the country amid a massive student-led movement demanding her resignation. Bangladesh had issued an arrest warrant against her in October and formally sought her extradition soon after, citing the bilateral treaty that governs repatriation of wanted persons between the two nations. India, however, has so far remained silent on the issue.

Reiterating its demand following Monday’s verdict, Dhaka said New Delhi has a “legal obligation” under the treaty to hand over both convicts. “We urge the Indian government to immediately hand over these two convicts to the Bangladeshi authorities,” the statement said.

Law Advisor Asif Nazrul confirmed that the government will again write to New Delhi seeking Hasina’s extradition. He warned that India’s continued sheltering of the former prime minister would be perceived as hostility. “If India continues to shelter this mass murderer, then India must understand that this is a very reprehensible act of hostility against Bangladesh and its people,” Nazrul said.

The development has intensified diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours at a time when regional political dynamics remain volatile. India has yet to issue an official response to the renewed demands.