Bangladesh Interim Government Seeks Sheikh Hasina’s Repatriation from India

In a significant development, Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim Bangladesh Government, announced on November 17th that he would seek the repatriation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in exile in India since August. Hasina fled Bangladesh following the collapse of her government amid a massive upsurge led by a student-driven reform movement.

Addressing the nation on the 100th day of the interim government’s rule, Yunus stated that his administration would prosecute Sheikh Hasina for a range of serious crimes committed during her 15-year tenure. These included enforced disappearances, murders, and other violations of human rights. Yunus confirmed that an arrest warrant had already been issued against Hasina, along with 45 other individuals, by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), a body established by Hasina’s government in 2010.

Yunus further revealed that a Dhaka court had summoned Hasina to appear before it to face charges of crimes against humanity, including murder, disappearances, and killings. Despite the court order, Hasina remains in India, citing safety concerns. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that Hasina entered the country at short notice, seeking refuge after the political upheaval.

In his address, Yunus emphasized that his government would also prosecute those responsible for suppressing the reform movement that led to Hasina’s ouster. His comments appeared to be a direct response to Hasina’s earlier remarks, in which she demanded justice for recent terror acts and sought accountability from those involved in the movement.

Yunus highlighted the findings of a commission investigating enforced disappearances under Hasina’s rule, which reported that the number of victims could be as high as 3,500. He also assured that the interim government would provide full rehabilitation to the families of those who lost their lives during the July-August movement and would cover the medical expenses for those injured in the unrest.

This latest development signals an intensifying political battle in Bangladesh, with the interim government seeking justice for the victims of Hasina’s administration while the former prime minister remains in exile, awaiting the resolution of her legal challenges.