The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday confirmed that the Bangladesh interim government has sent a note verbale to New Delhi requesting the return of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“We confirm that we have received a Note Verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission today in connection with an extradition request. At this time, we have no comment to offer on this matter,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
The MEA’s response comes shortly after Bangladesh’s interim government said that it has sent a diplomatic note to India to send back Sheikh Hasina to Dhaka. Hasina, 77, has been living in exile in India since 5 August, when she fled Bangladesh following student-led protests that ended her 16-year rule.
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“We have sent a note verbale to the Indian government saying that Bangladesh wants her back here for the judicial process,” Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain told reporters at his office.
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam informed reporters that his office had submitted a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate Hasina’s extradition. “We have sent a letter to the foreign ministry regarding her extradition. The process is currently underway,” he said in response to a query.
Last month, in an address to the nation, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said it will seek the extradition of Hasina.
“We must ensure justice in every killing… We will also ask India to send back fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina,” he said.
