No reply yet to letter seeking Hasina's repatriation: Foreign Adviser

Bangladesh has sent a letter to India requesting the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity. India has not yet responded, and Dhaka says it does not expect a reply this soon.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain made the remarks while speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, November 26.

In response to a question about the process of sending the letter, he said the note verbale was sent to India’s Ministry of External Affairs through the Bangladesh mission. “No reply has come. We do not expect a reply this quickly.”

When asked why he does not expect an early response, he said, “I haven’t even received replies to earlier letters. So I do not expect this one to be answered tomorrow or within a week. But we hope we will get a reply. Just not within a week.”

Asked what the letter said, Touhid Hossain replied, “We have requested her return since she has been convicted through trial.”

On 17 November, the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death for crimes against humanity in last year’s July killings. Subsequently, last Friday, the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi sent a diplomatic letter to India’s Ministry of External Affairs requesting Hasina’s extradition.

Earlier, in December last year, Bangladesh had also sent India a letter requesting her return.

Asked whether Indian observers will be allowed in the upcoming election, the adviser said, “This is entirely the Election Commission’s matter. We have no role. We will not assist anyone unless the Election Commission instructs us.”