Bangladesh’s interim government has asked neighbouring India to extradite fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The request was sent to the Indian government in the form of a verbal note, The Daily Star newspaper and other local media reported on Monday, citing the foreign affairs adviser in Dhaka, Touhid Hossain.
The 77-year-old is accused, among other things, of crimes against humanity.
The long-standing head of government resigned at the beginning of August after mass protests and serious clashes between demonstrators and security forces, and was taken to India in a military helicopter.
Hundreds of people lost their lives in the protests, which were led by students. The government of the day had tried to crack down on the protesters.
The protests initially focused on the planned reintroduction of a controversial quota system in the civil service. Later, the demonstrators demanded the resignation of Hasina, who had increasingly ruled the country in an authoritarian manner.
After her flight, an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus was set up with the support of the military.
A court in Bangladesh issued arrest warrants in October against Hasina and a number of other people, including former party colleagues of the politician. It was initially unclear how India would react to the extradition request.
