BNP Secretary-General Urges India to Extradite Sheikh Hasina for Trial

Bangladesh Nationalist Party's Secretary-General, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, urged India to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina for trial. Hasina fled to India following student-led protests. Fakhrul criticized India for providing her asylum and accused her of conspiring against Bangladesh. An interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been established.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party's Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday called on India to extradite deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina to face trial, accusing her of plotting to thwart the student-led revolution.

Hasina, 76, resigned and fled to India on August 5 amidst massive protests against her government over a controversial quota system in government jobs. 'It is our call to you that you should hand her over to the government of Bangladesh in a legal way. The people of this country have given the decision for her trial. Let her face that trial,' Fakhrul said, according to the Daily Star.

Fakhrul, after placing a wreath at the grave of BNP founder Zia-ur Rahman, remarked that India is not upholding its commitment to democracy by sheltering Hasina, whom he called a fascist. He also claimed that Hasina's rule weakened Bangladesh's independence and burdened the country with massive debt.

(With inputs from agencies.)