Bangladesh tells India it wants Sheikh Hasina back for ‘judicial process’

DHAKA: Bangladesh has told neighbour India that it wants former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to New Delhi in August, back in the country for “judicial process”, the acting head of the country’s foreign ministry said on Monday.

Ties between the South Asian neighbours, who have strong trade and cultural links, have become fraught since Sheikh Hasina was ousted following violent protests against her rule and she took refuge across the border.

Dhaka’s request to New Delhi on Monday came two weeks after India’s foreign secretary visited Bangladesh and the two countries said they hoped to clear the cloud and pursue constructive relations.

“We sent a note verbale to the Indian government saying that the Bangladesh government wants her (Hasina) back here for judicial process,” Touhid Hossain told reporters, referring to diplomatic correspondence between the two countries.

Hossain did not elaborate on the judicial process.

India’s foreign ministry and Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

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The head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has demanded that India send Hasina back so that Bangladesh can try her for what it says are crimes against protestors and her opponents, and crimes she is accused of committing during her tenure over the past 15 years.

Yunus has also been upset with Hasina for criticising his administration from New Delhi.

Sheikh Hasina faces numerous charges, including crimes against humanity, genocide, and murder, among others. She denies the charges.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka this month and reiterated India’s commitment to pursuing a constructive relationship with Dhaka.

New Delhi has said that Hasina came to India at a short notice for “safety reasons” and continues to remain here, without elaborating.

Hasina fled to India after a series of protests, which began in July as a student-led movement against public sector job quotas, brought her government down.

The protests created deadliest unrest since Bangladeshi independence in 1971, resulting into the deaths of about 1,500 people and causing injuries to thousands.