India has extended the visa of Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, who has been in the country since August. This decision comes as pressure mounts in Dhaka for her extradition, according to sources.
Hasina, 77, left Bangladesh following nationwide protests and has remained out of contact since her arrival at Hindon airbase on August 5. It is believed she has since been relocated to a secure location in Delhi.
On December 23, the interim government in Dhaka, headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, formally requested her extradition through a note verbale, an unsigned diplomatic communication, addressed to India’s external affairs ministry.
The Hindustan Times, citing sources, reported that her visa was recently extended by the Indian Home Ministry through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to facilitate her continued stay in the country.
Speculation about her being granted asylum was dismissed, with sources noting that India lacks a specific legal framework for handling refugees or asylum requests.
The visa extension comes against the backdrop of Bangladesh’s interim government requesting Hasina's extradition. A note verbale, an unsigned diplomatic communication, was sent to India’s External Affairs Ministry on December 23 to press the matter.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh's International Criminal Tribunal has issued a second arrest warrant for Hasina, accusing her of crimes including enforced disappearances. The tribunal directed Bangladeshi authorities to arrest Hasina and 11 others and present them before the court by February 12.
Additionally, Maj Gen (retired) ALM Fazlur Rahman, chief of Bangladesh’s National Independent Investigation Commission, has expressed interest in sending a team to India to question Hasina regarding the killing of 74 people by the Bangladesh Rifles in 2009.
According to the Hindustan Times, these actions by Bangladesh’s interim government are seen in India as part of ongoing efforts to maintain pressure for Hasina's extradition.
BDST: 0953 HRS, JAN 08, 2025
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