Wed Dec 25 06:21:07 UTC 2024: ## Bangladesh Seeks Hasina’s Extradition from India Amidst Political Turmoil

**Washington, D.C. – December 25, 2024** – The son of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has accused the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus of a politically motivated “witch hunt” against the Awami League. Wazed’s allegations, posted on X, follow the interim government’s request for Hasina’s extradition from India, where she has resided since fleeing Bangladesh in August following widespread student-led protests that toppled her government.

The interim government claims Hasina and several associates are wanted for “crimes against humanity and genocide,” citing the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). However, Wazed vehemently denies the corruption allegations, asserting they are baseless and politically driven. He also criticizes the ICT’s impartiality, alleging that its judges and prosecutors were appointed by the unelected Yunus regime, resulting in a biased and unjust process.

Wazed further alleges that the ICT chief prosecutor, appointed just days before the extradition request, initially spread false information about an Interpol red notice against Hasina before retracting the statement after media exposure. He accuses the interim government of fueling violence and extrajudicial killings to suppress dissent.

India, which received the extradition request on December 23, has yet to officially comment. The India-Bangladesh extradition treaty allows refusal if the offense is deemed political. While Bangladesh’s de facto Foreign Minister, Touhid Hossain, insists on Hasina’s return to face trial, Wazed maintains that the entire process lacks credibility and is a tool to persecute the Awami League leadership.

The situation is further complicated by reports of increased attacks on minorities in Bangladesh since Hasina’s departure, a concern India has raised with the interim government. These recent events underscore growing tension between India and Bangladesh, as the extradition request adds a significant new dimension to the already volatile political landscape.

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