Summary:
- Bangladesh court issues second arrest warrant for former PM Sheikh Hasina, currently in exile in India, over allegations of enforced disappearances during her 15-year tenure.
- The warrant targets Hasina and 11 others, with charges involving over 500 individuals allegedly abducted by security forces and held in secret facilities.
- Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has formally requested Hasina’s extradition from India, while investigating a $5 billion embezzlement case linked to the Rooppur nuclear power plant.
- Diplomatic tensions have escalated between India and Bangladesh, resulting in reduced visa operations and affecting medical patients seeking treatment in India.
A Bangladesh court has issued a second arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who remains in exile in India following her ouster in August 2024. The warrant relates to allegations of enforced disappearances during her 15-year tenure.
Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), announced that the warrant targets Hasina and 11 others, including her military adviser and law enforcement officials. The charges involve over 500 individuals allegedly abducted by security forces and held in secret facilities during her administration.
The 77-year-old former leader fled to India on August 5 amid widespread student protests that ended her rule. She currently faces multiple serious charges, including crimes against humanity, with Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, actively pursuing her extradition.
Bangladesh formally requested Hasina’s extradition from India on December 23 through diplomatic channels. India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed receiving the request but declined further comment.
Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, emphasized during a recent press conference that “She must face the trial. Our pressure will relentlessly be there.”
The case has strained relations between India and Bangladesh, with India scaling back visa operations in Bangladesh since Hasina’s departure. The diplomatic tension has particularly affected Bangladeshi patients seeking medical treatment in India, with daily visa slots reduced from 7,000 to approximately 500.
Since her government’s collapse, authorities have detained dozens of Hasina’s allies for their alleged involvement in a police crackdown that resulted in over 700 protest-related deaths. Additionally, Bangladesh has initiated an investigation into alleged $5 billion embezzlement linked to the Russian-backed Rooppur nuclear power plant, involving Hasina and her family.
The International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka has issued multiple arrest warrants for Hasina and her close associates, while the government has also sought Interpol’s assistance in securing her detention.
Source: Kalerkantho
