Dhaka has formally approached New Delhi, invoking an extradition treaty to seek the return of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has received a death sentence. Bangladesh’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that India has a “binding duty” under the treaty to hand over the “fugitive accused.” The ministry warned that sheltering individuals convicted of crimes against humanity would be interpreted as an “extremely unfriendly act and an affront to justice.”
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) passed the death sentence on Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal for alleged crimes against humanity during the July-August 2024 disturbances. The tribunal concluded that Hasina ordered the suppression of a student protest. Her assets within Bangladesh were also ordered to be seized. A former police chief received a five-year jail term.
Reacting to the ICT’s judgment, Sheikh Hasina described the death penalty as evidence of the “murderous intent” of extremists in the current interim government. She contested the legitimacy of the tribunal, labeling it “rigged” and politically driven, with the objective of silencing her and her party, the Awami League. Hasina proudly highlighted her past administration’s human rights achievements, including accepting Rohingya refugees and fostering substantial economic development, while dismissing the allegations against her as baseless.