Last update:November 17, 2024, 9:07 PM IST

Yunus had long promised to extradite Hasina from India over the deaths of hundreds of protesters during a mass uprising against her.

Muhammad Yunus has promised to extradite Sheikh Hasina as she faces multiple criminal charges following the anti-government agitation. (Reuters)

Bangladesh’s interim leader and Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus said on Sunday his administration would seek the extradition of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, where she has been in exile since fleeing a mass uprising in August.

Hasina faced mass protests over a controversial quota system for government jobs, which soon turned into an all-out anti-government agitation, leading to widespread chaos and violence. Hasina was forced to resign and flee the country, with Yunus taking over three days later as chief adviser to the interim government.

In a televised address to the nation on his first 100 days in office, Yunus said the interim government would bring to justice those responsible, including the former prime minister, for hundreds of deaths during the student-led uprising that ended her rule for 15 years. More than 600 people were killed in the ensuing unrest from mid-July to August.

“We will seek the return of the fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina of India,” he said. Yunus said Hasina’s role would be investigated not only in deaths during the unrest, but also in other human rights violations, including alleged enforced disappearances while she was there. to power.

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Bangladesh seeks Interpol’s help to extradite Hasina

Earlier, a special court had asked Interpol to issue a red notice for Sheikh Hasina’s arrest in connection with the death of hundreds of protesters during the mass riot. The Yunus-led government has long vowed to seek Hasina’s extradition from India, along with her close associates.

While Hasina and her close associates face numerous criminal charges at home, the Yunus-led government is also pushing for the ICC to take up the case. “We have already discussed the matter with the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan,” the chief counsel said.

Yunus said his government’s most important task was to hold new elections to hand over power to an elected government, but gave no time frame. He said his administration would first bring reforms in various sectors, including the electoral system.

He promised that once the electoral reforms are completed, a roadmap for new elections will be unveiled. The Nobel laureate also played down “exaggerated” reports of attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, many of whom have complained that hardline Islamists have become increasingly influential since Hasina’s ouster.

Hindus make up about 8% of the country’s nearly 170 million people, while Muslims make up about 91%. The country’s influential minority group Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said there were more than 2,000 attacks on Hindus between August 4 and early November as the caretaker government struggled to restore order.

Location:

Dhaka, Bangladesh