[🇧🇩] Extradition of Hasina, Awami Leaders/Beneficiaries and Related News.

[Saif]

Are you ok with Hasina back to power with other revolution supported by India?

Our revolution was not supported by anyone. We got the support from the international community after our revolution had succeeded.

 

[Vsdoc]

It seems that rice crisis has made you more agressive. Bhukha Bengali angry bengali.

Bangali.

Not Bengali.

Big difference.

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Bangali.

Not Bengali.

Big difference.

That is right but what is the difference?

 

[Krishna with Flute]

You helped us because you wanted to break Pakistan. Whatever you did for Bangladesh back in 1971, you did it to protect your own strategic interest.

We can do it again to protect our interest.

 

[Saif]

We can do it again to protect our interest.

Bangladesh is not as weak as it used to be in 1971.

 

[Saif]

Next step after reply from Delhi

Dhaka will send a reminder letter to New Delhi if the Indian government does not respond to the diplomatic note sent on Monday regarding the extradition of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

www.thedailystar.net

Next step after reply from Delhi
Says foreign ministry spokesperson about Hasina’s extradition

Dhaka will send a reminder letter to New Delhi if the Indian government does not respond to the diplomatic note sent on Monday regarding the extradition of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

"So far, we have not received any response from New Delhi through official channels. We will wait for their reply, and if we don't receive one within a certain period, we will send a reminder letter," said Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, spokesperson for foreign ministry.

He made the comments during a media briefing at the ministry yesterday afternoon.

On Monday, the foreign ministry, through its mission in New Delhi, sent a diplomatic note requesting the Indian government to extradite Hasina for judicial proceedings in Bangladesh.

Responding to a question, the spokesperson said Dhaka's next steps would depend on Delhi's reply. "We don't want to comment on this at the moment or speculate on the situation."

Indian media outlets reported on Monday evening that the country's external affairs ministry had received Bangladesh's diplomatic note. However, the ministry refrained from making any official comment on the matter.

Hasina faces over 100 cases on charges of murder, genocide, and crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising, which led to the fall of her government on August 5.

Bangladesh and India signed an extradition treaty in 2013, which was amended in 2016, providing a legal framework for such requests.

'BANGLADESH WILL SECURE ITS BORDER'

When asked whether Dhaka would consider engaging with non-state actors in Myanmar, such as the Arakan Army, to manage border issues along the Bangladesh-Myanmar frontier, the spokesperson said, "Bangladesh will do whatever is necessary for its border security."

The Arakan Army (AA), a rebel group in Myanmar's Rakhine state, has taken control of the frontier from the Myanmar junta after weeks of intense fighting. Since November of the previous year, the AA has seized control of 13 out of 17 townships in Myanmar's Rakhine state, according to media reports.

About the possibility of reinforcing military presence along the border, Rafiqul said, "We will have to wait a couple of days for a decision."

He said a high-level meeting on the issue had been held earlier in the day, but declined to provide further details.

On Sunday, Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said he had communicated to his Myanmar counterpart that Dhaka could not engage with non-state actors like the AA to address border control issues.

Regarding concerns over a potential new influx of Rohingyas, Rafiqul reaffirmed Bangladesh's position against allowing more Rohingyas into the country.

Bangladesh is hosting over one million forcibly displaced Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar. Most of them arrived in 2017 after a military crackdown by Myanmar.

In the last seven years, not a single Rohingya had returned to Myanmar.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Bangladesh is not as weak as it used to be in 1971.

True but India is many more time powerful than it was in 1971.

 

[Vsdoc]

True but India is many more time powerful than it was in 1971.

Exponentially.

If we were to disregard mass civilian deaths, it would take India less than a day to overrun Bangladesh and make them beg for surrender.

 

[Bilal9]

Who the hell are you to call the interim government of Bangladesh illegitimate when the European Union, America, Japan and China accepted this government as legitimate?

Don't worry. We have legitimacy where it counts.

 

[Saif]

Exponentially.

If we were to disregard mass civilian deaths, it would take India less than a day to overrun Bangladesh and make them beg for surrender.

Playing too much video games makes you r*tard, you know.

 

[Vsdoc]

Playing too much video games makes you r*tard, you know.

Thankfully for you it does not matter either way.

 

[Saif]

Aftermath of Sheikh Hasina’s extradition request

THE Bangladesh government lodging a formal request to extradite its former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, through a diplomatic note verbale dated December 23, 2024, is a welcome step...

www.newagebd.net

Aftermath of Sheikh Hasina’s extradition request
by Quazi Omar Foysal 27 December, 2024, 00:00

New Age/Mehedi Haque

THE Bangladesh government lodging a formal request to extradite its former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, through a diplomatic note verbale dated December 23, 2024, is a welcome step towards addressing the allegations of human rights violations and international crimes during the fifteen-year-long tenure of the previous government. The extradition request is based on the 2013 Bangladesh-India Extradition Treaty (amended in 2016). This treaty was concluded during Hasina’s regime and binds both states under international law. As of now, India’s response to the note verbale has been limited to an acknowledgement of receipt. Bangladesh has subsequently revealed that it will remind India of the request but has not specified a timeline.

This decision by the government marks a clear departure from its earlier stance. On October 30, 2024, it had stated that it would request Sheikh Hasina’s extradition from India only after a successful trial outcome. This author has previously argued (New Age, November 9, 2024) that such an approach could potentially undermine the prospect of the extradition process itself. However, as the chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal-Bangladesh, ICT-BD, has rightly pointed out, the successful extradition of Hasina could pave the way for a more effective and fair trial.

At this juncture, Bangladesh can validly claim that the extradition request meets the conditions stipulated in the 2013 Bangladesh-India Extradition Treaty and does not fall under grounds for rejection. However, the success of the deal depends on whether India accepts Bangladesh’s interpretation of the treaty. Historically, any attempts to extradite high-ranking political figures from allied nations have often produced more heat than light. The Hasina extradition attempt cannot be viewed in isolation, especially considering that she is widely recognised as one of India’s closest allies in South Asia. This complicates the matter further, given the political dynamics at play.

One of the key drawbacks of the 2013 Extradition Treaty is the absence of a compulsory dispute resolution mechanism. Bangladesh must, therefore, pursue the matter through diplomatic channels. While the Indian government has not made any official comments, some political commentators have raised concerns about the political nature of the crime, the fairness of trials and the potential use of the death penalty. In that context, the government should address these issues robustly alongside its diplomatic efforts.

It is often criticised that the call for the trial of Hasina is political in nature. In fact, political crimes are exempted from the purview of the 2013 Extradition Treaty. While the publicly available information about Bangladesh’s note verbale does not mention the forum of the trial, it can be inferred that it involved, as indicated by the ICT-BD chief prosecutor, the trials of international crimes. There is a global consensus that political crimes do not cover international crimes, and this does not attract the definition of political crimes provided in the 2013 Extradition Treaty.

The decision to hold trials for international crimes is viewed by some as politically motivated, though such trials themselves are not inherently political. The allegations of international crimes and human rights violations committed under Hasina’s regime are widely accepted. This view is supported by the OHCHR Preliminary Analysis on Bangladesh (August 16, 2024) and is likely to be reinforced by its upcoming final report. Additionally, the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances’ recent findings further substantiate these allegations. Thus, dismissing these accusations as political crimes would be equivalent to an indirect denial of those horrendous crimes inflicted on Bangladeshis during the last 15 years, including the July massacre.

There are some concerns regarding the ICT-BD’s adherence to fair trial standards. The ICT-BD has attracted widespread criticisms, mostly on its fair trial standards and the use of the death penalty, during its functioning in the Awami League era. The current interim government, aware of these criticisms, has amended the ICT-BD Act to replace its Nuremberg-era provisions with Rome Statute-era provisions. These amendments address rules of evidence, the rights of the defence and the rights of victims.

It is interesting to note that when Bangladesh moved to prosecute ICT-BD convicts despite the above-mentioned criticisms, India continued to strengthen its relations with the Awami League government. This pattern persisted even after the Awami League’s controversial re-election in a largely voteless 2014 general election.

In the current context, it is expected that the government should take adequate steps to ensure the proper implementation of these provisions, which appear to offer greater protections to both the accused and victims than the general criminal justice system of Bangladesh. The successful implementation of the provisions of the amended ICT-BD, alongside addressing other alleged irregularities in Bangladesh’s justice system, will provide a strong counter-justification for India’s hesitance to extradite Hasina.

Furthermore, there remain persistent concerns over the death penalty in the ICT-BD Act. In many extradition cases, the death penalty has been successfully cited as a bar to extradition, largely based on the principle of non-refoulement. Nevertheless, since both Bangladesh and India retain the death penalty, it is difficult to see why India would raise objections to its application in this case. While abolitionists often argue against the death penalty in transitional justice contexts, Bangladesh is not legally obligated to adopt this stance. On a related note, the issue of death penalty abolition may resurface, and it would be prudent for the current government to reconsider this matter.

On the other hand, it is equally implausible to imagine India amending its penal provisions to extradite an accused of terrorism from other death penalty-retaining states, including Bangladesh. This logic should also apply to cases involving serious international crimes supported by credible evidence in the present case.

Pending the anticipated delay by the Indian government, Bangladesh may simultaneously explore alternative forums for Hasina’s trials to facilitate an extradition agreement with India. This approach is supported by several precedents. For instance, former Liberian president Charles Taylor was prosecuted by the Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone in The Hague, Netherlands, rather than in Freetown, to ensure transparency and fair trial standards. Similarly, the deposed Chadian dictator Hissène Habré was tried by the African Extraordinary Chamber, a tribunal established jointly by the African Union and Senegal on the same grounds.

If India continues to delay the extradition deal, Bangladesh could propose an alternative judicial arrangement, potentially in collaboration with the UN or SAARC. International practice demonstrates that holding trials in multiple forums is feasible. In this case, the majority of the accused could be tried at the ICT-BD, while Sheikh Hasina would be tried at a specialised tribunal. In such a scenario, Bangladesh should prioritise the realisation of justice, rather than the forum in which it is pursued.

As events unfold, Bangladesh must remain open to further negotiations with India. Bangladesh should consider offering ‘diplomatic assurances’ to India, including guarantees to ensure Hasina’s fair trial rights and adherence to relevant human rights standards, with provisions for monitoring by India. This approach may become increasingly crucial in the days to come.

The Hasina extradition request serves as a critical test of India’s commitment to mending its recently strained bilateral relationship with Bangladesh, following the toppling of the Hasina government on August 5. In this context, India should approach the issue in good faith, interpreting the 2013 Extradition Treaty legally rather than politically. It remains to be seen whether the extradition request will lead to another irresolvable dispute between Bangladesh and India or whether it will signify a new phase of cooperation in their bilateral relations.

Quazi Omar Foysal is an international law expert, currently serving as a lecturer at American International University-Bangladesh and practising as an advocate at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.​

 

[Saif]

India unlikely to respond to call on Hasina extradition: Hindustan Times

The report noted that key procedural requirements have not been fulfilled by Dhaka to advance such a request.

www.thedailystar.net

India unlikely to respond to call on Hasina extradition: Hindustan Times

File photo

India is unlikely to act on Bangladesh's request to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Hindustan Times reported today, citing sources familiar with the situation. The report noted that key procedural requirements have not been fulfilled by Dhaka to advance such a request.

The extradition plea was submitted as a note verbale—an informal diplomatic communication—by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi to India's Ministry of External Affairs on December 23. This development occurred against the backdrop of heightened tensions in bilateral relations following the establishment of Bangladesh's interim government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

A note verbale, considered one of the most basic forms of diplomatic communication, is generally not used for sensitive matters like extradition requests, Hindustan Times reported, quoting sources on condition of anonymity.

Hasina, 77, has been residing in India since leaving Bangladesh amidst nationwide protests led by student groups. She fled Dhaka on August 5. Yunus and other interim government leaders have referred to her presence in India and her statements while in exile as contributing to tensions in India-Bangladesh relations.

Some observers in New Delhi view the extradition request as largely symbolic—a measure by Bangladesh's interim government to address domestic political pressures, particularly from student groups pushing for Hasina's return, the Hindustan Times reported, citing sources.

"Extradition is not some simple process and both parties making and receiving such a request have certain obligations. The person who is the subject of an extradition request also has options. Those options are yet to be exercised," the Hindustan Times quoted one source as saying.

The person sought for extradition retains the right to challenge the request in court, a step that has not yet been pursued.

Moreover, the India-Bangladesh extradition treaty of 2013 includes clauses under which an extradition request can be denied. Article 6, or the "Political Offence Exception" allows refusal if the offense is deemed political in nature, the newspaper stated.

Article 8, which outlines additional grounds for rejecting extradition, specifies that an individual cannot be extradited if the accusation lacks good faith or fails to serve the interests of justice, the report added.

The Hindustan Times also noted that during Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's visit to Dhaka last month, discussions focused on charting a constructive path forward in bilateral relations.

An official statement released after Misri's day-long visit on December 9 emphasised India's "willingness to build a positive and constructive relationship" with Bangladesh, built on mutual trust and respect for each other's concerns.

While reiterating India's support for a democratic, stable, and inclusive Bangladesh, Misri stressed that bilateral cooperation in areas like connectivity, trade, and energy is "geared towards the benefit of the people of Bangladesh".

Although India has ongoing concerns about the treatment of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, there are indications that Dhaka's leadership may be adopting a more conciliatory stance towards New Delhi, reports Hindustan Times.

The Hindustan Times also observed that neither Hasina's presence in India nor Bangladesh's extradition request was mentioned in a detailed interview with Bangladesh Army Chief Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman published by Prothom Alo on Wednesday.

Zaman acknowledged Bangladesh's dependence on India as an "important neighbour" and will not do anything that goes against New Delhi's strategic interests. India has an interest in Bangladesh's stability and the two sides share a give-and-take relationship that "must be based on fairness", said The Hindustan Times.

Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain also highlighted the importance of balancing the extradition request with other pressing issues on Wednesday.

The reciprocal release of each country's fishermen on January 5 is seen as a step towards improving India-Bangladesh relations, the report concluded.​

 

[Vsdoc]

Hasina should be granted Indian citizenship.

 

[Vsdoc]

It would be ridiculously easy to do.

The fact that neither India nor Hasina are opting for that option should tell the chaddi warriors something.

 

[Bilal9]

If India wanted to overrun Bangladesh, it'd have done it already.

Exponentially.

If we were to disregard mass civilian deaths, it would take India less than a day to overrun Bangladesh and make them beg for surrender.

 

[Vsdoc]

If India wanted to overrun Bangladesh, it'd have done it already.

You will no doubt read about it in the US, when we do it, little runt.

 

[Saif]

We can offer Bangladeshi citizenship to ex ULFA leader Paresh Barua.

‘What can we do?’

Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain yesterday said he has come to know about the reported visa extension of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is staying in India since her ouster on August 5 last year, through media.

www.thedailystar.net

‘What can we do?’
Says Touhid on ‘Hasina’s visa extension by India’

Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain yesterday said he has come to know about the reported visa extension of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is staying in India since her ouster on August 5 last year, through media.

"Like you, I also got to know it from newspapers. What can we do?" he said when journalists asked him about the reported visa extension of Hasina at the foreign ministry.

Quoting sources in New Delhi, the Hindustan Times yesterday reported that New Delhi extended Sheikh Hasina's visa.

According to the report, the Union home ministry was required to sign off on the visa extension through the local Foreigners Regional Registration Office. Authorities, however, dismissed claims that the former leader had been granted 'asylum' in the country.

Bangladesh sought Hasina's extradition through a note verbal sent to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on December 23.

Asked about New Delhi's response to the communication, Touhid Hossain told reporters: "We have not yet received any response to our letter."

On Monday, the Department of Immigration and Passports cancelled the passports of 97 people, including Hasina, for their alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and killings during protests in July.​

 

[Saif]

No response yet from India over Hasina's extradition: Touhid Hossain

Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain has said they have not received any response from India on extraditing Sheikh Hasina. The foreign adviser made this remark while answering queries from newsmen at the foreign ministry on Wednesday.

en.prothomalo.com

No response yet from India over Hasina's extradition: Touhid Hossain
Diplomatic Correspondent
Dhaka
Updated: 08 Jan 2025, 22: 17

Foreign adviser Md. Touhid Hossain at a media briefing at the foreign ministry on 1 October 2024File photo

Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain has said they have not received any response from India on extradition of Sheikh Hasina.

The foreign adviser made this remark while answering queries from newsmen at the foreign ministry on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, New Delhi has extended the tenure of visa of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

When asked about the development, Touhid Hossain said, "Like you, I have also learnt from the newspaper. What can we do."

When asked whether you received any response to the letter seeking repatriation of Sheikh Hasina, the adviser said, "We have not received any response to the letter sent to India for the repatriation of Sheikh Hasina."

On 23 December, Bangladesh sent a letter to India for extraditing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on charges of crimes against humanity.

Sheikh Hasina has been staying in India since she fled to India on 5 August. Since then Bangladesh is making calls to bring her home back.

According to a report of The Hindustan Times, India has extended the tenure of visa for Sheikh Hasina.

The report also read that Hasina, 77, fled to India after stepping down amid nationwide protests. She has not been allowed to communicate with other people since she arrived at Hindon airbase on 5 August. She, however, has been moved to a safehouse in Delhi.

The former prime minister's visa was recently extended to facilitate her stay in the country, the people said on condition of anonymity. They dismissed speculation about Hasina being granted asylum in the country by pointing out that India doesn’t have a specific law for dealing with refugees and matters such as asylum.​

 

[Saif]

Visa issue doesn’t exist once passport is revoked: Govt

Referring to deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s reported visa extension, the interim government on Thursday said the visa issue does not exist once a passport is cancelled. “I would give you a general answer – if a passport is cancelled, no visa issue remains,” Spokespe

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Visa issue doesn’t exist once passport is revoked: Govt
Published :
Jan 09, 2025 21:10
Updated :
Jan 09, 2025 21:10

Referring to deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s reported visa extension, the interim government on Thursday said the visa issue does not exist once a passport is cancelled.

“I would give you a general answer – if a passport is cancelled, no visa issue remains,” Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Rafiqul Alam told reporters while responding to a question at a weekly briefing at the ministry.

He also said that passport cancellation issues are notified through Bangladesh Missions abroad so that countries with diplomatic relations with Bangladesh are informed about the cancellation, UNB reports.

“As we don’t have additional information, we would not speculate,” Alam added.

Earlier, the Department of Immigration and Passports revoked the passports of 97 people, including Hasina, due to their alleged involvement in the July killings and alleged involvement in enforced disappearances.

However, the Hindustan Times, a major national daily of India, reported that Sheikh Hasina’s visa extension was recently approved, and facilitated by India’s Union Home Ministry through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

Hasina, 77, has been residing in India since fleeing her country in August last year, following widespread protests that culminated in her resignation.

"Like you, I too came to know about this (extension of Sheikh Hasina's visa) through the newspaper. What can we do?" Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain posed a counter question when journalists approached him at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

He also said they have not yet received a response to the letter (note verbale) sent to India requesting Sheikh Hasina's extradition.

“At this moment, we are waiting for India’s reply,” Spokesperson Alam said on Thursday, adding that there is no relation between the former prime minister’s status in India and Dhaka’s request for her extradition.

The spokesperson said everyone knows that she is in India and Bangladesh requested her extradition as a citizen of Bangladesh.

The interim government in Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, formally requested Hasina’s extradition through a note verbale sent to India’s Ministry of External Affairs on December 23.​