India’s response to the note verbale from Bangladesh regarding extradition of deposed PM Sheikh Hasina is a sign that South Block does not want to escalate any issue with Dhaka and that it wants to be on the cautious track. Sources in New Delhi said on Thursday (December 26, 2024) that India does not want to add to the difficulties that the interim government is already facing as evident in the activities of the students and right wing outfits that have adopted an anti-India position.
The Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs had acknowledged on Monday that Bangladesh has sent a note verbale seeking extradition of Sheikh Hasina, saying, “At this time, we have no comment to offer on this matter.” The Indian measured response has added the latest layer to the conversation that has been ongoing since M.s Hasina left Bangladesh on August 5 amidst dramatic scenes. In October, Bangladesh’s interim administration had issued an arrest warrant for Ms Hasina.
Sources here indicated that they are keenly watching the developments inside Bangladesh that are indicative of “growing pressure” on the interim government led by Prof. Mohammad Yunus. On 9 December, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka and participated in the Foreign Office Consultation (FCO) and had raised issues like treatment of religious minorities and attack on the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka.
Since the visit of Mr Misri, several incidents have taken place that have raised concern here. Former Principal Staff Officer and former Director General of Border Guards of Bangladesh Lt General Moinul Islam was denied permission to fly abroad earlier this week amidst reports that he had been detained. On December 26 the interim government has declared that foreign nationals staying in Bangladesh will have to regularize their stay before January 31, 2025 failing which they would be dealt with through legal means. The latest step is reportedly being undertaken to deal with the reported presence of large number of foreign nationals inside Bangladesh.
Meanwhile mobs aligned with the ruling set up have reportedly forced five senior journalists to leave their positions in a leading news channel. According to German news outlet DW, five senior journalists of Samay TV were asked to quit after they were singled out by a mob led by student-coordinator Hasnat Abdullah. In a Facebook post Mr Abdullah acknowledged that he had gone to the investors behind Samay TV to “protest” against the senior journalists. “Samay TV was distorting my comments and supporting the policies of a corrupt political party,” Mr Abdullah said.
Officials here said that India is tracking all the developments concerning the interim government of Bangladesh and has a fair idea of the internal pressure building up on the power structure that was brought in by Prof Yunus. The Yunus administration has further expanded the advisory council in November and inducated new advisers including Mahfuj Alam, a former student coordinator of the Anti Discrimination Students Movement, indicating that it is willing to accommodate the demand for greater representation of the young activists and leaders in the government. The influence of advisers who have risen from the ranks of the anti-Hasina student activists can be assessed by the fact that the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh has announced that it will hold a meeting on “Building new Bangladesh: Internal reform and foreign policy” on December 29 where the two invited speakers will be Nahid Islam and Mahfuj Alam. The event will be conducted by Mohammed Jashim Uddin, Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh.
Published – December 27, 2024 02:38 am IST