Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Credit: Reuters Photo
New Delhi: Outgoing Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president and senior advocate Adish C Aggarwala has written a letter to the president of the apex court bar association in Bangladesh, seeking information on whether the country's former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, had committed an "extraditable offence".
Aggarwala has also requested the Bangladesh SCBA president to ensure that Hindus are not intentionally targeted during a turmoil in the neighbouring country.
The letter, addressed to A M Mahbub Uddin Khokon, says the legal fraternity of both countries work closely.
"I read in news reports that it has been urged by you in the capacity of President of Supreme Court Bar Association of Bangladesh that India should arrest the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, and return them to Bangladesh," the letter says.
It points out that according to the 2013 extradition treaty between both countries, it is mandatory that there is an "extraditable offence".
"There is no news report that Sheikh Hasina and her sister have been charged in any criminal case. However, if you claim that Sheikh Hasina and her sister have been charged with any offence and if the government of Bangladesh has made an extradition request to the Indian government, then kindly provide the said information to me immediately, so that we can also impress upon the government of India to extradite them to Bangladesh," the letter says.
"The bar is the protector of human rights.... There are press reports that houses and businesses of Hindus, as well as temples, have been targeted, looted, damaged during the ongoing turmoil in Bangladesh. I also take this opportunity to request you to ensure that Hindus are not intentionally targeted in Bangladesh," it says.