“SHELTERING THE AUTOCRAT”
Such is the atmosphere of distrust, when deadly floods washed through both countries in August some Bangladeshis blamed India for the deaths that resulted.
Bangladesh’s interim government has not publicly raised the issue of Hasina taking refuge in India with New Delhi – her last official whereabouts is a military airbase near the capital – but Dhaka has revoked her diplomatic passport, preventing her from travelling onwards.
The countries have a bilateral extradition treaty first signed in 2013 which would permit her return to face criminal trial.
A clause in the treaty, however, says extradition might be refused if the offence is of a “political character”.
India’s former ambassador to Bangladesh, Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, said that the bilateral relationship is too important for Dhaka to sour it by pressing for Hasina’s return.
“Any mature government will realise that making an issue out of Hasina staying in India is not going to give them any benefits,” he told AFP.
