Two cases have been registered against former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The first case is related to murder. While, the second case is related to kidnapping. Two cases have been registered against Sheikh Hasina in two days.
Along with Sheikh Hasina, six leaders of her party Awami League have also been made accused in the murder case. Abu Sayeed, who ran a grocery shop in Mohammadpur area of Dhaka, was murdered on 19 July. He was killed during a student demonstration.
At the same time, the kidnapping case has been registered by Supreme Court lawyer Sohail Rana. Sohail Rana alleges that he was kidnapped on 10 February 2015. He was kidnapped and tortured and released in August.
After the filing of cases one after the other, a big problem has arisen not only for Sheikh Hasina but also for India. Sheikh Hasina has been in India since she resigned on August 5.
Why is it difficult for India?
Sheikh Hasina’s long stay in India can create problems. Actually, there is an extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh. The extradition treaty was signed between the two countries in January 2013.
Due to the extradition treaty, the Bangladesh government can demand that India arrest Sheikh Hasina and hand her over to them so that a trial can be conducted. Interestingly, the talks regarding the extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh progressed only after Sheikh Hasina became the Prime Minister in 2009.
Actually, India was demanding the extradition of Anup Chetia, who was lodged in Dhaka jail for a long time. Anup Chetia was the leader of Assam’s separatist organization ULFA. In 1997, he was arrested for entering Bangladesh without valid documents. After the signing of the extradition treaty in 2013, Anup Chetia was handed over to India in November 2015.
Well, now there is an interim government in Bangladesh. Mohammad Yunus is its head. In such a situation, the demand for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina has also started rising. The Bar Association of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh has demanded India to arrest Sheikh Hasina and hand her over to them.
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How long will Sheikh Hasina stay in India?
Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana have been in India since August 5. She arrived in India the same evening on the day she resigned. Currently, Sheikh Hasina and her sister are in a secure location.
It was being said that Sheikh Hasina might go to London from India. However, there is no possibility of this right now. Dhaka Tribune has quoted its sources as saying that Sheikh Hasina will stay in India for a few more days.
It is believed that Sheikh Hasina will not stay in India for very long. Because if she stays, the demand for her extradition may intensify. She may go to a country where the possibility of her extradition is less or negligible.
Why is India not safe for Sheikh Hasina?
At present, Sheikh Hasina is in a safe place in India, but it will not be safe for her to stay here for a long time because cases are being registered against her. In such a situation, the Bangladesh government can put pressure on India to extradite her.
There is a provision in the extradition treaty between the two countries that if a person has committed a crime which carries a punishment of at least one year, he will be extradited.
It is written in the treaty that if a person has committed a crime of political nature, then his extradition can also be denied. However, a person involved in crimes like murder, genocide and kidnapping cannot be denied extradition.
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In such a situation, what can India do?
Sheikh Hasina’s relations with India have always been good. If the Bangladesh government demands extradition, it could create a dilemma for India.
It is believed that if such a demand is made, India can refuse to extradite Sheikh Hasina. Refusal to extradite Sheikh Hasina can sour relations between India and Bangladesh. Along with this, anti-India sentiment can also flare up in Bangladesh.
However, India’s policy has been to ignore such resentment and put its interests above all else. Despite China’s objection and the 1962 war, India has given refuge to the Dalai Lama for decades. Similarly, the family of Mohammad Najibullah, who has been the President of Afghanistan since 1992, is also living in India.
At the same time, in 2021, when the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, India allegedly refused to give asylum to President Ashraf Ghani. In July 2022, India also refused to give asylum to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya. Later Rajapaksa went to Maldives.
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Will Sheikh Hasina return?
At present, Sheikh Hasina has become a ‘pawn’ of Bangladesh politics. Now Sheikh Hasina’s future depends to a large extent on the army there. It is believed that just like the Pakistani army did with Pervez Musharraf, the Bangladeshi army can do the same with Sheikh Hasina. With the help of the Pakistani army, Musharraf went to Dubai and spent his life there till his death. The Bangladesh army can also offer something similar.
However, a few days ago, Brigadier General (Retired) M Sakhawat Hussain, head of Home Affairs in the interim government of Bangladesh, had appealed to Sheikh Hasina to return.
Hussain had said, Sheikh Hasina had gone on her own and now she should return. But she should not create any ruckus after returning, because this will anger people even more. Interim government chief Mohammad Yunus had also said that it is not right for Sheikh Hasina to stay in India.
Recently, Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy had said in an interview to Aaj Tak that she wants to return to Bangladesh. Wazed had said that she has not applied for asylum in any country, she wants to return to Bangladesh soon.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)