India unlikely to sacrifice Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh interim government’s request to India to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina faces multiple hurdles, including the bilateral extradition treaty.

According to people in the know, India is unlikely to sacrifice one of its closest allies considering the geopolitical factors. As per the India-Bangladesh extradition treaty, requests “political in nature” cannot be enforced.

Highly placed sources told ET that Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus regime is using pressure tactics to get Hasina extradited, but any such move will send a wrong signal to Indian allies in the immediate and extended neighbourhood.

Hasina had safeguarded India’s interests, cracked down on radicals and boosted sub-regional cooperation. Considering this, India will study extradition request carefully and this may take months. India maintains that it has a long tradition of receiving guests, including the Dalai Lama.

It is being felt that false cases will be slapped on Hasina to prosecute her if she returns to Bangladesh under current circumstances, the sources said.

This is not the first time that Hasina is in exile in India. She was here in exile following her father’s assassination in 1975. Political observers said Hasina’s presence in India will boost the morale of Awami League, which is planning a comeback.

Source: The Economic Times