The chief prosecutor of Bangladesh has accused ousted leader Sheikh Hasina of "genocide," stating that the country's war crimes tribunal is demanding her extradition from neighboring India.
Several weeks of student-led protests in Bangladesh escalated into widespread demonstrations last month, leading to Hasina’s resignation as Prime Minister. She fled to India by helicopter on August 5, marking the end of her 15-year rule.
On Sunday, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam of Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) told reporters, "Since the main culprit has fled the country, we will initiate legal proceedings to bring her back."
The ICT was established by Hasina in 2010 to investigate atrocities committed during the 1971 war.
Hasina's government has faced widespread allegations of human rights abuses, including the mass detention of political opponents and extrajudicial killings.
Islam added, "Bangladesh has an extradition agreement with India that was signed in 2013 during Sheikh Hasina's government. Since she is now the main accused in genocide charges, we will legally attempt to bring her back to Bangladesh to face trial."
The 76-year-old Hasina has not been seen publicly since fleeing Bangladesh, and her last known location is a military airbase near India’s capital, New Delhi. Her presence in India has angered Bangladesh.
Dhaka has revoked her diplomatic passport. Both countries have a bilateral extradition agreement that allows for the return of individuals to face criminal trials.
However, one clause of the agreement states that extradition can be refused if the crime is "political in nature."
Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus, who took over as interim leader following the coup, stated last week that Hasina should "remain silent" while in exile in India until she is brought back to face trial.
The 84-year-old Yunus told the Press Trust of India news agency, "If India chooses to keep her until Bangladesh demands her return, the condition should be that she remains silent."
There is growing public pressure on the Bangladeshi government to demand her extradition and prosecute her for the deaths of hundreds of protesters during weeks of unrest, which eventually led to her government's downfall.
An initial United Nations report revealed that over 600 people were killed in the weeks following Hasina's ouster, suggesting that the actual death toll may be higher.
Last month, Bangladesh launched an investigation into enforced disappearances during Hasina's regime, led by a retired High Court judge.
It should be noted that Bangladesh's extradition agreement with India, signed in 2013, allows for extradition unless the crime is political. This agreement was made during Sheikh Hasina’s government. Similarly, the International Crimes Tribunal, established by Hasina in 2010 to investigate atrocities from the 1971 war, has sentenced several Jamaat-e-Islami leaders to death.
It is important to remember that Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule ended on August 5 following a student movement in Bangladesh. To suppress this protest, hundreds of young people were killed.
Hasina fled by helicopter to her old ally, India, where she remains in exile.
Last week, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus also reiterated that Hasina should remain silent while in exile in India until her trial begins.
A United Nations fact-finding team is expected to arrive in Dhaka soon to investigate Sheikh Hasina's alleged war crimes.
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