Do Sheikh Hasina’s enemies want to put India in trouble too? BNP has demanded her extradition

New Delhi: Bangladesh’s main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has demanded the extradition of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. Is this the biggest challenge for India after the coup in Bangladesh? BNP has said that Sheikh Hasina has been charged in Bangladesh for several crimes including murder. BNP said, ‘We urge that you should hand her (Sheikh Hasina) over to the Bangladesh government in a legal manner.’ Hasina left the country on August 5 amid the chaotic situation under the guise of the student movement. The former Prime Minister of Bangladesh is now living in India.

Does BNP want to make India uncomfortable?

Now BNP, the main rival of Sheikh Hasina’s party Awami League, has tried to put pressure on India. BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the people of Bangladesh have decided to prosecute Sheikh Hasina. Let her face the trial now. he/she said this after paying tribute to the party’s founder Ziaur Rahman in Dhaka. Alamgir said that allowing Sheikh Hasina to take refuge is not in line with India’s resolve to protect democratic principles. he/she said, ‘Staying there, she (Sheikh Hasina) has started many conspiracies to defy the revolution that took place in Bangladesh.’ The BNP General Secretary said that there is an extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India, so those against whom there is a court case must be handed over.

India and Bangladesh have an extradition treaty

After Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh, BNP chief and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been released from house arrest. The party said that a case has been registered against Sheikh Hasina for crimes like murder and extortion, which comes under the conditions of extradition. Sources say that the bilateral agreement of extradition does not apply in cases which are political in nature. That is, extradition of political personalities is not necessary, but if a case is registered for a serious crime like murder, then the leaders can also be extradited.

India has the weapon of Article 8

The question again is whether BNP’s demand has put India in trouble? In fact, India has the option of protecting Sheikh Hasina despite the extradition treaty with Bangladesh. India can refuse to extradite Sheikh Hasina by citing Article 8 of the Extradition Treaty. Article 8 says that extradition can be denied if the intention behind the extradition demand is not right or in favor of justice.

The BNP general secretary said that Sheikh Hasina is still conspiring against the victory of Bangladeshi students and other citizens from Delhi. Alamgir said, ‘I am saying this with full strength and I want to make it clear that India cannot get the love of the people here by giving shelter to the enemy of the people of Bangladesh.’ The Awami League has criticized the interim government for filing cases against Sheikh Hasina. It said that false cases have been filed against Hasina out of political malice.