A Bangladeshi court on January 6, 2025 issued a second arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in exile in India. AFP Report. The latest warrant is linked to Hasina’s alleged involvement in enforced disappearances during her tenure as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, where more than 500 individuals were allegedly abducted by security forces and detained in secret facilities. Had gone.
Sheikh Hasina was declared a fugitive on August 5, 2024 for not surrendering after leaving Dhaka.
The International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) said the warrant also included charges against 11 other people, including military advisers and law enforcement officials linked to his administration.
Sheikh Hasina, aged 77, was ousted from power in August 2024 after a significant student-led revolution that highlighted widespread discontent with her government.
The ousted Bangladesh prime minister and Awami League leader already faces previous charges of crimes against humanity related to human rights abuses during her 15 years in office.
ICT Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam stressed the urgency of bringing Sheikh Hasina to justice, while reaffirming the importance of following legal procedures, saying, “We want to ensure that the trial concludes as soon as possible. “
“We want to make sure the trial ends as quickly as possible, but that doesn’t mean we will break the law or impose a verdict without due process.” AFP Said citing Islam.
The interim government of Bangladesh led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has prioritized Sheikh Hasina’s extradition from India and formally requested her return on December 23.
However, the Indian government has not yet responded to this request.
Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Shafiqul Alam reiterated the government’s determination to have Hasina face trial for her alleged crimes, indicating that “pressure will be made” for her extradition.
Since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster from power, several Awami League allies have been detained for their role in the violent crackdown that resulted in more than 700 deaths among protesters.
Will Sheikh Hasina be deported?
In common law jurisdictions, a trial cannot be initiated in the absence of an accused. For this trial to begin, Sheikh Hasina will have to appear before the court and participate either physically or virtually.
While Bangladesh has sought Sheikh Hasina’s extradition from India through diplomatic channels, the Indian government has not yet commented on it. However under customary international law under the principle of auto dere aut judicare the state has an obligation to extradite any person accused of a serious international crime such as genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, enforced disappearance or torture. whether or not to prosecute”, India is under no obligation to extradite Hasina to Bangladesh.
