Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been ordered to be arrested by a Bangladeshi court after fleeing to India following a student-led uprising. The court has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and others, accusing her of committing crimes against humanity during a crackdown on protests.
Hasina has not been seen in public since leaving Bangladesh and is currently in India, which has a bilateral extradition treaty with Bangladesh. However, there is a loophole in the treaty that could prevent her return if the offence is deemed to be of a “political character”.
Critics of Hasina, who led Bangladesh for 15 years, accuse her government of using excessive force against protesters and creating a controversial International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) to eliminate political opponents. The court, established in 2010 to probe atrocities during the 1971 independence war from Pakistan, has been criticized for procedural shortcomings.
Hasina’s presence in India has strained relations between the two countries, with Bangladesh revoking her diplomatic passport. It is unclear whether she will remain in India or leave for another country. Several cases accusing Hasina of mass murder are being investigated by the ICT.
The former prime minister’s whereabouts have been unknown since she left Bangladesh, leaving many to speculate on her next moves. Despite the arrest warrants issued against her, the loophole in the extradition treaty may complicate her return to Bangladesh to face trial.
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