Legal Loophole May Help Sheikh Hasina Avoid Extradition, Says Former Ambassador

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, confirmed Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Jaiswal stated that the interim government of Bangladesh has sent a diplomatic note regarding the extradition, but New Delhi has yet to respond. Former Indian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mahesh Sachdev, has provided insights into potential measures Sheikh Hasina could take to resist extradition. In an exclusive interview, Sachdev suggested that Sheikh Hasina could approach the courts to contest the extradition request made by the interim government.

Sachdev noted that, similar to cases where India's extradition requests were denied by European countries due to concerns over potential mistreatment, Sheikh Hasina might claim she does not trust the interim government and fears being subjected to unfair treatment. Furthermore, India itself could potentially reject the extradition request on political grounds, Sachdev added. The Extradition Treaty between India and Bangladesh, originally signed in 2013 and amended in 2016, was designed to strengthen cooperation on combating extremism and terrorism across their shared border. Sachdev highlighted that the diplomatic note verbale from Bangladesh calls for justice in this matter, but the outcome remains uncertain.