‘Dhaka seeks Hasina’s return thru extradition treaty’
The Bangladesh government has formally requested the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through diplomatic channels so that she can face multiple criminal cases filed against her in the country, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Thursday.
Speaking at a press briefing on the law and order situation at the Home Ministry’s conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat, the minister said the government was committed to pursuing her return strictly through legal procedures and existing extradition mechanisms.
“We want Sheikh Hasina back through legal procedure. Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and under the existing extradition treaty, a formal request has been made for her return so that she can face the cases filed in Bangladesh,” said Home minister.
Ahmed confirmed that the formal request had already been transmitted through diplomatic channels, signalling a continuing effort by the interim government to hold the former premier legally accountable following her ouster from power.
Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh in August 2024 amid a mass uprising that ended her 15-year tenure as Prime Minister. She is believed to be in India, where she has remained since her departure. Dozens of cases — including those related to killings during the uprising — have since been filed against her in Bangladeshi courts.
When questioned on India’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) — legislation that has drawn scrutiny from minority communities and human rights groups — Ahmed was careful to frame the issue as outside Dhaka’s purview.
“India’s CAA or Assam’s NRC are their own legal and administrative matters concerning their citizens. There is no scope for Bangladesh to comment on those issues,” he said, reflecting Dhaka’s longstanding policy of non-interference in New Delhi’s domestic affairs.
However, the minister indicated that the government was not entirely indifferent to cross-border dynamics. He said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) had been placed on high alert along the frontier to prevent any illegal infiltration or push-ins — a measure that signals heightened vigilance even as official rhetoric remains restrained.
The minister also reaffirmed the government’s broader commitment to maintaining law and order and ensuring justice is delivered through lawful and institutional processes, amid an ongoing transition period that has seen widespread legal action against figures from the previous administration.
