Sanjib Wajid, son of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accused the Mohammad Yunus-led interim government of using the judiciary for political vendetta against Awami League leaders. Two days before this, on Monday, the interim government had said that it has sent a diplomatic letter to New Delhi demanding the extradition of Hasina to India. Hasina (77) is in India since August 5. She left Bangladesh and reached India after the fall of her 16-year-old Awami League government due to a massive student movement in her country.
Bangladesh’s International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former cabinet ministers, advisers and military and civilian officials for “crimes against humanity and genocide”. “Judges and prosecutors appointed by the unelected Yunus-led government conducted a farcical trial process through the International Criminal Tribunal, making it an act of political vendetta in which justice was abandoned and Another attack was carried out to harass the Awami League leadership.
Wajid, an IT professional, lives in America and has been an advisor on information and communication technology in Hasina’s government. He said, “The Kangaroo Tribunal and the subsequent extradition request have been made at a time when hundreds of leaders and activists are being extrajudicially killed, serious charges of murder are being imposed on them, thousands of people are being detained by law enforcement agencies. They are being illegally imprisoned and violent attacks including looting, vandalism and arson are taking place every day due to the government’s neglect.” India on Monday addressed Bangladesh’s High Commissioner in New Delhi. Confirmed receipt of the diplomatic letter but did not respond to it.
According to the provisions of the India-Bangladesh Extradition Treaty, extradition can be refused if the crime is of a political nature. Bangladesh’s unannounced Foreign Minister Tauheed Hossain said Dhaka wanted Hasina to return and face judicial process. Wajid alleged that Tajul Islam, appointed chief prosecutor of the ICT Tribunal by the Yunus regime despite his proven record of defending war criminals, “deliberately launched a misinformation campaign” against Hasina and claimed that Interpol had issued a red notice against him. . Wajid called it “a desperate attempt to extradite Hasina and conduct a ridiculous trial to serve Yunus’s interests”.
