Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry has called on India to immediately hand over former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan following their convictions delivered in absentia by the International Crimes Tribunal-Bangladesh (ICT-BD).
In an official statement issued on Monday, Dhaka said the two former officials, both currently believed to be in India, must be returned under the terms of the existing extradition treaty between the two countries. The Ministry said sheltering individuals convicted of serious offences would be considered an unfriendly act and urged New Delhi to facilitate their transfer “without delay”.
Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan were found guilty of crimes against humanity linked to the 2024 student protest crackdown. The verdicts were delivered in their absence, as both left Bangladesh following the political unrest that toppled Hasina’s government in August 2024.
India has not yet issued a formal response to Bangladesh’s request. The development adds a new layer of diplomatic tension between the neighbours as Dhaka pursues legal action against several former officials over alleged abuses committed during the final months of Hasina’s administration. (Newswire)