- Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Bangladesh government has revoked Hasina’s passport and of 96 others over their alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and the July killings
By: India Weekly
INDIA has extended the visa of deposed Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in the country since last August, reports Hindustan Times.
After a nationwide student-led protest toppled Awami League’s (AL) 16-year regime, Hasina had fled Bangladesh and landed in New Delhi on August 5.
The 77-year-old deposed leader’s visa was recently extended to facilitate her stay in the country, the daily said quoting officials.
They, however, dismissed speculation about Hasina being granted asylum in the country as India doesn’t have a specific law for dealing with refugees and matters such as asylum.
The interim government in Dhaka, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, had on December 23 sent a diplomatic note to India to send back the 77-year-old Hasina to Dhaka.
Bangladesh government on Tuesday (7) revoked Hasina’s passport and of 96 others over their alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and the July killings.
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former Cabinet ministers, advisers, and military and civil officials for “crimes against humanity and genocide”.
Addressing the press in Dhaka, chief adviser’s deputy press secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said, “The Passports Department cancelled passports of 22 people involved in enforced disappearances, while passports of 75 people, including Sheikh Hasina, were revoked due to their involvement in the July killings.”
The ICT had on Monday issued arrest warrants against Hasina and 11 others, including former military generals and an ex-police chief, for their alleged role in incidents of enforced disappearances.
This was the second arrest warrant by the ICT against Hasina, after she fled to India. The tribunal has so far recorded three cases against her.
The deposed premier’s then-defence adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and former IGP Benazir Ahmed are among those named in the case. While Siddique is currently under custody, Ahmed is believed to be on the run.
In New Delhi, these actions are being seen as Bangladesh interim government’s efforts to keep up pressure on the Indian side for Hasina’s extradition.
After coming to India, the deposed Bangladesh leader had reportedly tried for asylum in different countries, including the UK and the US, but failed. India has provided her as “safe house” where she is currently residing.
The external affairs ministry has said in the past that it is up to Hasina to decide her future plans. (Agencies)
