Triumphant Return: Sheikh Hasina Comes Back to Bangladesh Amidst War Crimes Tribunal’s Urgent Extradition Push
The Bangladeshi war crimes tribunal is preparing extradition paperwork for Sheikh Hasina, who faces allegations of orchestrating ‘massacres.’ This move follows remarks by interim leader Muhammad Yunus advising the Awami League chief to stay in India until Bangladesh calls her back. Hasina is accused of being the ‘main perpetrator’ behind the deaths of hundreds of protesters during the unrest that preceded the government’s fall. Last month, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) opened an investigation against Hasina and nine others on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity for events from July 15 to August 5. Bangladesh revoked her diplomatic passport recently, signaling plans to issue an arrest warrant.
Bangladesh and India have a bilateral extradition treaty allowing for criminal extraditions, but it includes a clause that permits refusal if the offense is considered ‘political.’ Mohammad Tajul Islam, the chief prosecutor for the ICT, announced that legal procedures to secure Hasina’s return would commence shortly. “We have a criminal extradition treaty with India, signed in 2013 when Sheikh Hasina’s government was in power. As she is now the primary accused in the Bangladesh massacres, we aim to legally bring her back for trial,” he stated.
The ICT, established by Hasina in 2010, initially focused on crimes from the 1971 independence war against Pakistan. Despite the charges, Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has declared that the former Prime Minister has not sought asylum and intends to return to Bangladesh soon. “There is much misinformation. She has not applied for asylum anywhere and plans to return to Bangladesh soon,” he told AajTak Bangla last month.
(With inputs from agencies)
Original Story https://www.livemint.com/news/world/is-sheikh-hasina-returning-to-bangladesh-war-crimes-tribunal-gears-up-to-seek-extradition-from-india-11725888174653.html
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