Bangladesh has sent a complete set of documents to India for the extradition of ousted Sheikh Hasina and will issue a reminder when the country's political leadership deems it is necessary, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Alam.
“When the political leadership thinks it is the right time... then a reminder will be sent (to Delhi),” Mohammad Rafiqul Alam said at the weekly media briefing at the ministry on Thursday.
Responding to a question on whether Bangladesh had sent the arrest warrant of Hasina to India for her extradition, Alam confirmed that all required documents were included when Dhaka sent a note verbale (diplomatic letter) to India.
On December 23 last year, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry, through its mission in New Delhi, sent the note verbale requesting the Indian government to extradite Sheikh Hasina for judicial proceedings in Bangladesh.
So far, India has not responded to Bangladesh's request. “We will continue to wait for a response from India,” Alam said.
When asked about the timing of a potential reminder to India, Alam stated, “It is both a diplomatic and political decision.”
Responding to another question on whether the United Nations’ fact-finding report would put pressure on Delhi to repatriate Hasina, the spokesperson noted, “The findings of the UN Human Rights report are significant enough to shake anybody’s mind.”
He said the UN Fact-Finding Team, based on information and evidence obtained from the investigation, concluded that the human rights violations during the relevant period constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute.
“Furthermore, the incidents are linked to the then-government, specifically the political leadership of the Awami League (Paragraphs 290-292),” Alam added.
When asked if the interim government would involve foreign allies to pressure India for Hasina’s extradition, Alam said, “The high-level leadership of the interim government will decide on that matter.”
MSH
