Bangladesh tells India it wants ex-PM Hasina back for 'trial' | Sheikh Hasina News

Dhaka has sent a formal request to New Delhi to extradite Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August amid protests that ended her 15-year rule.

Bangladesh has told India it wants former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to New Delhi in August, back in the country for a “trial,” the country's acting foreign ministry chief says.

“We have sent a note verbale to the Indian government saying that the Bangladesh government wants her (Hasina) to come back here for trial,” Tuheed Hossain told reporters on Monday, referring to diplomatic correspondence between the two countries.

Hossein did not provide details about the trial.

“We confirm that we have today received a note verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission regarding an extradition request. As of now, we have no comment on this matter,” said the official spokesperson of India's Ministry of External Affairs.

The connections between South Asian neighborswhich have strong trade and cultural ties, have been on edge since Hasina was ousted after violent protests against her rule and she took refuge across the border.

The head of Bangladesh's interim government, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has demanded that India send Hasina back so Bangladesh can try her for crimes against protesters and her opponents, as well as crimes she is accused of committing during his tenure for the past 15 years.

Yunus is also upset with Hasina for criticizing his administration from New Delhi.

Dhaka's request to New Delhi came two weeks after India's foreign minister visited Bangladesh and both countries said they hoped to mend the relationship.

Hasina faces multiple charges, including crimes against humanity, genocide and murder, among others, all of which she denies.

Dozens of Hasina's allies have been detained since her regime collapsed in August, accused of involvement in a police crackdown that killed more than 750 people, mostly youths, during the unrest that led to her ouster.

Hasina also called for an investigation into the killings, saying that many deaths may have involved people outside the security services.

The Dhaka-based International Criminal Tribunal has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and her close aides, and the government has sought help from the international police organization Interpol to arrest her.

Separately on Monday, Bangladesh opened an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of $5 billion related to a Russian-backed nuclear power plant, the Rooppur nuclear power plant, by Hasina and her family, the country's anti-corruption commission said.

“Allegations of bribery, mismanagement, money laundering and potential abuse of power raise serious concerns about the integrity of the project and the use of public funds,” the commission said.