'Send Sheikh Hasina Back': Bangladesh Sends Diplomatic Note To India

Bangladesh has officially requested India through a "note verbale" to send back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India on August 5 after a student-led movement ousted her from power. 

"We have sent a note verbale to India requesting to send Sheikh Hasina back," Bangladesh's Interim government's Foreign Affairs Adviser, Touhid Hossain said, ANI reported. 

On August 5, a student-led movement in Bangladesh led to the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after weeks of intense protests and violent clashes, which resulted in more than 600 deaths. 

Hasina On December 9 accused the Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, Muhammad Yunus, of being the "mastermind" behind the student protests that led to her ouster, while further alleging that the protest was "meticulously designed" to overthrow her government.

Hasina stated that even though all the demands of the protesters had been met, the unrest persisted nationwide, suggesting that it was part of a well-planned conspiracy.

"Yunus himself said that the student protest that started on July 7, 2024, was not student-initiated but a meticulously designed protest to overthrow me...He was the mastermind who started this conspiracy because all the demands were met, and there was no scope for protest, despite there being protests across the nation...It was a meticulous conspiracy," Hasina claimed, ANI reported.

MEA On Sheikh Hasina's Extradition Request

The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed receiving a Note Verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission regarding an extradition request for ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, but declined to comment further.

"We confirm that we have received a Note Verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission today in connection with an extradition request. At this time, we have no comment to offer on this matter, " said the spokesperson of the MEA, ANI reported.