Bangladesh’s interim head Muhammad Yunus announced on Sunday that the government will seek the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. The former Bangladeshi president fled to India in August this year following mass protests.
The Nobel Laureate while addressing the nation on his 100th day in office, said that his administration would prosecute those accountable, including Hasina, for the numerous casualties during the student protests that concluded her 15-year leadership.
“We will seek the return of the fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina from India,” Yunus said. “I have already discussed the issue with chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan.”
Yunus administration is also requesting for ICC involvement against Hasina and her associates along with various domestic criminal charges.
He indicated that investigations would cover both the uprising casualties and all human rights violations, including reported forced disappearances during Hasina’s tenure. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has requested Interpol’s assistance to issue a red notice for apprehending Hasina and her colleagues.
Yunus also that his government’s primary objective was organising fresh elections to transfer power to an elected administration, though he provided no specific timeline. He indicated that his government would first implement reforms across various sectors, including the electoral system.
He assured that once electoral reforms are complete, they would reveal a timeline for new elections.
Additionally, Yunus dismissed as “exaggerated” the reports regarding attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, who had expressed concerns about increasing influence of hard-line Islamists following Hasina’s removal.
