Bangladesh unaware of Hasina’s status in India: chief prosecutor

Bangladesh does not have specific information about the legal or immigration status under which former prime minister Sheikh Hasina is staying in India, International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Aminul said Hasina, who has been convicted by the tribunal, was the subject of an extradition request already sent to India by the Bangladesh government.

“The government has already applied to India for her extradition, and necessary steps have been taken through the legal process to bring her back,” he said.

Asked about a report in an Indian media outlet suggesting that court approval might be required in connection with Hasina’s case, the chief prosecutor said the report did not clarify whether she was in India under political asylum or another status.

“It would not be appropriate to comment based on that report,” he said.

Aminul said Bangladesh currently does not clearly know what status Hasina holds in India. As a result, it is also unclear what the report meant by requiring permission from an Indian court.

Asked whether Hasina’s case was related to the legal proceedings involving Salahuddin Ahmed in Meghalaya, Aminul said there was no connection between the two matters.

He said Salahuddin had been abducted from Bangladesh and taken to India in 2015. He was later found in Shillong and was acquitted in a case filed against him before eventually returning to Bangladesh.

The chief prosecutor also said sufficient evidence had been presented before the tribunal against seven accused, including former minister and former Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, over their alleged roles in the July uprising.

He alleged that around 1,400 people were killed and about 30,000 were left disabled during the movement, and said the accused would have to bear responsibility for the alleged crimes.

SKS