Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024 following the fall of her Awami League government. PHOTO: AP/FILE
As cases mount against Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh, the foreign affairs advisor of its interim government said they are likely to request for her extradition from India, adding that it may create an "embarrassing situation for the Indian government".
Bangladesh's interim government could consider seeking the extradition of deposed ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who faces a mountain of cases, from India but that would create an "embarrassing situation for the Indian government", the country's foreign affairs advisor Mohammad Touhid Hossain has said.
In an interview with Reuters TV in Dhaka, Touhid Hossain said the interim government would ask Sheikh Hasina to return to the country and face trial in the cases against her.
"Since there are so many cases against Hasina in Bangladesh, the country's home and law ministries could make the request to extradite her," he said.
Foreign Affairs advisor Mohammad Touhid Hossain
"Her staying in Delhi, in India, the question comes that…there are so many cases (against Hasina) that could be… again some speculating, I am not the person right to answer this, if there is a request from there (Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Law), we have to ask for her, you know, return to Bangladesh.
"If there is a demand from Bangladesh, that creates an embarrassing situation for the Indian government. So I think the Indian government knows this and I am sure they will take care of it", Reuters TV quoted Hossain as saying.
Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5 last, following an uprising led by students against her that turned violent.
A complaint has been lodged against Hasina and 24 others in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands for allegedly violating human rights. There are also multiple cases filed against her.
Yunus 'unhappy' with Hasina's statements from India
Hossain, who serves as the foreign affairs advisor in Bangladesh's interim government led by Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus also said the chief advisor is "very unhappy" about the way the statements are coming from India from Hasina and he had conveyed this to the Indian High Commissioner.
"Professor Yunus is very unhappy about the way the statements are coming from India, from the former Hasinar. He is quite unhappy about this and I have conveyed this to the High Commissioner (of India)," he said.
"I have also conveyed this because we believe in transparent relations. So whatever actually is there, unless there are some, there are some secret points could be there. Otherwise, we want to make things public. And we have – I have just told him about the displeasure of the chief adviser, and let us hope that they take care of it," he told Reuters TV.
Election timeline to be decided in September
Asked about the possibility of holding elections in the turmoil-hit country, the foreign secretary said there will be more clarity on the timeline by September.
"All my colleagues in the council of advisors, they are extremely busy with bringing back normalcy", he said adding, "I think from September, things will, normalcy and normal way of functioning will start."
ICJ complaint against Hasina for human rights violations
Sheikh Hasina had fled to India on August 5, following a student uprising which turned into a full-blown anti-regime protest that led to the fall of her Awami League government.
A complaint has been lodged against Hasina and 24 others in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands for gross human rights violations.
Also, there are multiple cases filed against Sheikh Hasina. The interim government has cancelled the passports of the former prime minister, her advisers, former cabinet members, and all members of the 12th national parliament.
The Bangladesh authorities have also revoked diplomatic passports of their spouses and children with immediate effect.
