"Hasina can go to court to fight extradition request from Bangladesh"

Mahesh Sachdev, former Ambassador to Bangladesh on Monday highlighted that Sheikh Hasina, ex-Prime Minister of Bangladesh can go to courts to fight extradition requests from Bangladesh’s interim government.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Sachdev said that just like the extradition requests of India were rejected by other European countries on various caveats, Haina too can say that she does not trust her government and that she is likely to be treated unfairly. Sachdev added that the extradition treaty rules out extraditions in political consideration.

“The extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh has various caveats which rule out extradition in case of political issues. But criminal issues are excluded from the political considerations. So all that is there and these caveats can be used. Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina can go to the court to fight extradition request saying she’s likely to be treated unfairly. India can cite such instances as well that we not sure whether she would be treated fairly and by the justice system. You recall they were extradition of terrorists from Europe to India which were held back because Indian judicial system, Indian jails were not regarded as up to the standard for Europe. Mallya has used these arguments also to fight his extradition. So, all these things are possibly going to pan out and it may be a rather protracted sort of affair to come with,” he said.

The extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh initially signed in 2013 and amended in 2016, was a strategic measure aimed at addressing the issue of insurgency and terrorism along the shared borders of the two nations. However, the extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh allows for refusal of extradition if the offence is of a political nature._Agencies.
(Inputs taken from ANI)