Bangladesh To Seek Sheikh Hasina’s Extradition From India, Says Muhammad Yunus – News18

Last Updated:November 17, 2024, 21:24 IST

Yunus had long promised to extradite Hasina from India over the deaths of hundreds of protesters during a mass uprising against her.

Bangladesh’s interim leader and Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus said Sunday that his administration will seek the extradition of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, where has been in exile since fleeing a mass uprising in August.

Hasina faced mass protests over a controversial quota system for government jobs, that soon spiralled into a full-blown agitation against the government, leading to widespread chaos and violence. Hasina was forced to resign and flee the country, with Yunus taking over three days after as the chief advisor of the interim government.

In a televised address to the nation on his first 100 days in office, Yunus said that the interim government will try those responsible including the former PM for hundreds of deaths during the student-led uprising that ended her 15-year rule. Over 600 people were killed in the unrest that ensued mid-July till August.

“We will seek the return of the fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina from India,” he said.  Yunus said Hasina’s role would be investigated not only in the deaths during the unrest but also in other violations of human rights, including alleged enforced disappearances while she was in power.

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Bangladesh Asks Interpol For Help In Extraditing Hasina

Earlier, a special tribunal had asked Interpol to issue a red notice for the arrest of Sheikh Hasina in connection with the deaths of hundreds of protesters during the mass uprising. The Yunus-led government had long promised to seek Hasina’s extradition from India, along with her close associates.

While Hasina and her close associates are facing numerous criminal charges at home, the Yunus-led government is also pushing for the ICC to take up the case. “I have already discussed the issue with chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan,” the chief adviser said.

Yunus said his government’s most important task was to hold a new election to hand over power to an elected government, but he did not spell out any timeframe. He said his administration would first bring about reforms in various sectors including in the electoral system.

He promised that once the once the electoral reforms are completed, a roadmap for the new election would be unveiled. The Nobel laureate also downplayed as “exaggerated” reports of attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, many of whom complained that hard-line Islamists are becoming increasingly influential since Hasina’s ouster.

Hindus make up about 8% of the country’s nearly 170 million people, while Muslims are about 91%. The country’s influential minority group Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has said there have been more than 2,000 attacks on Hindus since August 4 till early November, as the interim government has struggled to restore order.

Location :

Dhaka, Bangladesh