India’s political intent needed for Hasina’s extradition: Shama

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on Sunday that India’s political will, alongside the legal process, was necessary to secure the extradition of Sheikh Hasina.

“There is certainly a legal process involved, but political intent is also necessary,” she told journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka this afternoon.

Shama expressed the hope that the Indian government would take steps to expedite the ongoing extradition process to bring back the accused.

The state minister was responding to a question about remarks made by Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi regarding ousted Hasina’s stay in that country and the timeframe for her extradition.

The journalist referred to the high commissioner’s statement that Hasina had been given refuge in India in 2024 and that her extradition involved legal considerations, with no specific timeframe available.

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Shama said Bangladesh expected India to give attention to completing the process more quickly.

Asked whether the accused could be brought back under the existing extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India, she replied in the affirmative. “Certainly. The accused can be brought back under the treaty, and that process is being taken forward.” 

The state minister briefed journalists following her recent visit to Silicon Valley in California as part of a high-level government delegation.