Bangladesh’s interim leadership, under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has urged India to reconsider its long-standing position on the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, describing her as “credibly accused of crimes against humanity”.
In a strongly worded statement issued by press secretary Shafiqul Alam and widely circulated on social media, the Yunus-led administration called on New Delhi to act with “conscience and moral clarity” on what it described as a lawful and overdue demand.
“For too long, India has refused to comply with Bangladesh’s lawful request for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina. That position is no longer tenable,” the statement declared. “India can no longer protect an individual who stands credibly accused of crimes against humanity. No regional friendship, no strategic calculus, no political legacy can excuse or obscure the deliberate murder of civilians.”
The Yunus government bolstered its claim with references to international reports from the United Nations and the BBC, alleging civilian deaths, forced disappearances, and widespread suppression of dissent during Hasina’s tenure. The statement framed these as systemic violations of human rights under her leadership.
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“We ask that India recognise the weight of this moment and honour the shared values of justice, rule of law, and democratic integrity,” it added, drawing parallels with the UK’s own commitment to such democratic norms.
The interim administration asserted that the people of Bangladesh “deserve justice,” and that victims “deserve closure.” It warned that any hesitancy to pursue accountability would erode the credibility of democratic institutions and signal weakness in the global defence of human rights.
“No leader, no matter how powerful, is above the law,” the statement concluded, framing the call for extradition as both a regional imperative and a global test of moral fortitude.
Bangladesh has been governed by the Yunus-led interim setup following political upheaval earlier this year, and its international outreach appears designed to recalibrate foreign relations and assert a new posture of justice and transparency.
The Indian government has yet to issue an official response to the statement.
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