Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Dec 23: India has refused to make any comment as of now on the request received from Bangladesh for the extradition of the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina who is living in India since her government was overthrown in August by a violent mob.
“We confirm that we have received a note verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission today in connection with an extradition request. At this time, we have no comment to offer on this matter,” official sources said.
India on Monday received a note verbale, an unsigned diplomatic message in third person, from Bangladesh in connection with an extradition request for Sheikh Hasina, the ousted prime minister of India’s neighbouring country where a caretaker government is in charge.
Earlier in the day, the Bangladesh’s de facto Foreign Minister Touhid Hossain had said Dhaka wanted Ms Hasina back to face trial. “We have sent a note verbale to the Indian government saying that Bangladesh wants her back here for the judicial process,” Mr Hossain told reporters in Dhaka. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not commented on the matter.
Bangladesh Home Adviser Jahangir Alam had claimed that the process of her extradition from India “is underway.” He said his office sent a letter to the MEA to allow Ms Hasina’s extradition from India. “We have sent a letter to the foreign ministry regarding her extradition. The process is currently underway,” he told reporters in response to a query. Mr Alam said an extradition treaty between Dhaka and New Delhi exists and Ms Hasina could be brought back to Bangladesh under it.
Last month, in an address to the nation on the completion of 100 days of the interim government, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said it would seek the extradition of Ms Hasina. “We must ensure justice in every killing… We will also ask India to send back fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina,” he had said.
Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh have been facing attacks after attacks since Ms Hasina’s ouster. Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata Radharaman Das last week voiced concern, citing an answer in parliament given by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, who said 2,200 cases of violence have been reported in Bangladesh.
Mr Das also expressed concern over recent attacks on Hindu temples and asked the Christian minority in Bangladesh to be on guard over celebrating Christmas.
“Yesterday or today we came to know that in the last two-three days, three temples have been attacked… We know that now the Christmas holidays are going to be there. The Christian communities have been told that they should celebrate very carefully because there are chances of attacks on them. We hope that the interim government of Bangladesh will provide enough security so that the minorities of Bangladesh can celebrate their festivals without any fear,” Mr Das said.
Mr Singh in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Friday said India has taken a “serious” note of these incidents and shared its concern with the Bangladesh government. He highlighted India’s expectation from the Bangladesh government to take measures to ensure the safety of minorities, and added that the High Commission of India in Dhaka continues to monitor the situation in the neighbouring country.