Interim Chief Yunus stated that Bangladesh will pursue the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India

Bangladesh’s interim leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Muhammad Yunus, announced on Sunday, November 17, 2024, that his administration will seek the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, where she has been in exile since fleeing the country following a mass uprising in August 2024.

In a televised address marking his first 100 days in office, Yunus stated that the interim government would hold those responsible for the deaths during the student-led uprising, including Hasina, accountable. He explained that the uprising, which led to the end of Hasina's 15-year rule, resulted in hundreds of deaths. Yunus assumed office on August 8, 2024, just days after Hasina fled the country.

He emphasized that the investigation would not be limited to the uprising but would also cover other human rights violations, such as alleged enforced disappearances that occurred under Hasina's rule. The government has requested assistance from Interpol to issue a red notice for Hasina’s arrest and that of her associates.

Yunus stated, "We will seek the return of the fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina from India," and mentioned that he had already discussed the matter with Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). While Hasina and her close associates face numerous criminal charges domestically, Yunus' government is also pushing for the ICC to take up the case.

Extraditing Hasina could be a difficult issue for India, which has long considered her a trusted ally. Yunus acknowledged that his government’s primary goal was to organize a new election and transfer power to an elected government, but he did not specify a timeline. He clarified that electoral reforms would be prioritized before any election could take place.

Yunus mentioned that the government was in talks with political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Hasina's primary political rival. The BNP has called for elections within two to three months, believing that it could form the next government given Hasina's party’s current political struggles. 

Yunus further promised that the Election Commission would soon be reconstituted. "However, there is much work to be done," he added. "The train will reach its final station depending on how quickly we can lay down the railway tracks, and this will happen through consensus among the political parties."

Lastly, Yunus downplayed reports of attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, calling them "exaggerated." He said concerns about the increasing influence of hard-line Islamists after Hasina’s ouster were overblown.