Bangladesh Has The Right To Ask For Hasina's Extradition: Abdul Awal Mintoo

Bangladesh's interim government has sought ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s extradition and sent a note verbale to India for the same. India has confirmed receiving the formal request.

Abdul Awal Mintoo, Vice-Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and former President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, on Wednesday said that Dhaka has the right to ask for the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition. However, he stressed that "fair trial is the fundamental right of every citizen" and that Hasina has the right to go to an Indian court to defend herself. 

Commenting on the extradition request for Bangladesh PM Hasina, Abdul Awal Mintoo said: "She has the right to go to Indian court and complaint whatever she wants to...due process of law, fair judgement or fair trial is the fundamental right of every citizen whether she was former PM or not...if the trial is not fair, the judgement is not fair either....we have a right to ask for extradition and she has a right to go to Indian court to defend herself and why she shouldn't be extradited."

This comes days after New Delhi confirmed receiving a formal request from the Bangladesh High Commission regarding Sheikh Hasina's extradition. India made the announcement after Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain stated that Dhaka had sent a formal note verbale to India seeking the former PM's return to face law there. 

"We have sent a note verbale to the Indian government saying that Bangladesh wants her back here for the judicial process," Hossain had said.

Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee Bangladesh and resign as the PM after a student-led protest against her government turned violent. Following her ouster, an interim government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed.

Bangladesh has initiated an anti-corruption probe against Hasina for an alleged $5 billion embezzlement. Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several of her former ministers, advisers, military and civil officials for "crimes against humanity and genocide".

'There's Endeavour For Good Relation': Mintoo On India-Bangladesh Ties 

Mintoo, while speaking on the ties between India and Bangladesh, stated that there is goodwill after the foreign secretaries of both the nations met. He also expressed hope that the relations between the nations will return to normal. 

"Right now, if I see all the statements of people, it is a little bit strained but I think that goodwill....positive thinking...especially after the meeting of the two foreign secretaries, to take our relationship further to a very positive state. The endeavour is there for a good relation with our neighbour," he said.

Mintoo's statement comes after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri went on an official visit to Bangladesh aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

He further stated that the best way to improve the relations between the countries would be if Indian industrialists and businessmen invest in Bangladesh in order to produce goods in the neighbouring country. 

"India can contribute to Bangladeshi growth, if big Indian businessmen and industrialists can invest here...that is the best way to increase the India and Bangladesh ties...the trade between India and Bangladesh is good...connectivity will increase automatically over the years...future our ties will be much better," he said.