Bangladesh’s de facto foreign minister Mohammad Touhid Hossain said on Thursday the government would soon decide on the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina as cases mount against her. Hasina fled to India earlier this month amid violent protests against her government.
In an interview with Reuters, Hossain said he did not want to speculate but added that Hasina was facing “so many cases.” He further said the final decision to seek the former prime minister’s extradition rested with the country’s interior and law ministers.
This creates an “embarrassing situation” for neighboring India as Hasina continues to stay in New Delhi and explores options to seek political asylum, he said.
“This creates an embarrassing situation for the Indian government,” Hossain said, adding: “India knows this and I am sure they will take care of it.” He did not elaborate.
According to Reuters, the Indian Foreign Ministry had no comment on the matter.
Hossain is foreign policy adviser to the transitional government of Nobel Prize winner Mohammed Yunus.
Sheikh Hasina and other members of her Awami League party are implicated in two murder cases in Bangladesh. She fled the country on August 5, amid violent riots and protests across the country that left over 300 people dead.
Ataur Rahman, deputy director of the investigations department of the International Criminal Court, a national court, said a third case had been launched – an investigation into 10 people, including Hasina, for murder, torture and genocide during the protests.
After Hasina fled Dhaka, protesters attacked the residence of her party leaders and attacked people and monuments associated with the Awami League. According to local media reports, several party leaders were attacked and beaten to death by angry mobs.
At least three of Hasina’s former ministers and advisers have already been arrested in Bangladesh.
In her only statement since her ouster, Hasina called for an investigation into the murders and acts of vandalism during the protests. She did not comment on the allegations against her. Her son Sajeeb Wazed had previously stated that Hasina would not return to politics in Bangladesh. She only fled the country and resigned from her post after repeated requests from her family.
