The government has told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs that the request is “being examined by the competent authorities” in line with applicable law and established procedures.
A parliamentary committee has said it has taken note of the Bangladesh government’s “extradition request” after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was given a death sentence in absentia, and has asked the Centre to keep it informed on how the matter is being considered. The government has told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs that the request is “being examined by the competent authorities” in line with applicable law and established procedures.
The panel, headed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, made the observations in a report tabled in Parliament on Thursday. Titled “Action Taken by the Government on the Observations/ Recommendations contained in the Ninth Report of the Committee on the subject ‘Future of India-Bangladesh Relationship'”, the report said Hasina’s stay in India and New Delhi’s approach are guided by its civilisational ethos and humanitarian tradition of offering refuge to people facing grave distress or an existential threat.
In its response to the committee, the government said, “The recommendation is noted for compliance.” The panel also said it had been informed that the government of India does not provide Hasina with a “political platform or any space to undertake political activity from Indian territory”.
The committee noted that while extending humanitarian consideration, India has strictly followed the principle that no political activity is directed against any other country from its territory. It recommended that the government should “continue to uphold its principled and humanitarian approach, consistent with India’s values and international responsibilities, while ensuring that such situations are managed with due sensitivity”.
