‘Hypothetical Question’: On Possibility Of Sheikh Hasina’s Extradition, MEA’s Response

External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the possibility of ousted Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s extradition is a ‘hypothetical question’ while responding to a query on whether she will be extradited.

Bangladesh’s war crimes tribunal is to seek the extradition of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina from neighbouring India, its chief prosecutor has said, accusing her of carrying out “massacres”.

“As the main perpetrator has fled the country, we will start the legal procedure to bring her back,” Mohammad Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of Bangladesh’s Interna­tional Crimes Tribunal (ICT), told reporters on Sunday.

The ICT was set up by Hasina in 2010 to probe atrocities during the 1971 independence war from Pakistan.

“Extradition of Hasina is a hypothetical question in today’s scenario,” Jaiswal said while addressing the weekly press conference.

Jaiswal said that trade and commerce with Bangladesh has resumed. “Trade and commerce has started with Bangladesh, trucks and commodities are moving. The High Commission made an introductory call to discuss issues of mutual respect,” Jaiswal said.

He said that several projects were impacted due to the situation in Bangladesh.

Jaiswal’s remarks come amid concerns about the timely implementation of projects funded under India’s three lines of credit following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government last month after a mass uprising. Indian envoy Verma said New Delhi has not stopped any of its line of credit projects to Bangladesh as those are major projects.

However, the Bangladesh interim government said on Monday that India-funded projects are “very important” and will continue under the new administration in Bangladesh.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed also said that Dhaka looks forward to “enhanced cooperation” with New Delhi during his meeting with Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma here, the state-run BSS news agency reported.

“Already, the projects they (India) have with us are big projects, and we’ll continue those, as those are not small projects and we’ll take another big project for the benefits of ours…,” the report quoted him as saying.

“We’ll not stop on whatever we have got, and we’ll talk about those projects …funding of the projects and also their implementation part,” he added.