Sajib Wajed, son of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accused the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of “weaponizing the judiciary” for running a “political witch hunt” against the Awami League leadership.
Wajed’s allegations, in a lengthy post on X, came two days after the interim government said on Monday it had sent a diplomatic note to New Delhi seeking Hasina’s extradition from India.
Hasina, 77, has been living in Bangladesh since August 5, when she fled Bangladesh following massive student-led protests that toppled the 16-year rule of the Awami League (AL).
Bangladesh’s International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former cabinet ministers, advisers, and military and civilian officials for “crimes against humanity and genocide”.
“Judges and prosecutors appointed by the unelected Yunus-led regime to conduct a farcical trial process through the International Criminal Tribunal make it a political witch hunt that has abandoned justice and marks another ongoing attack to persecute the Awami League leadership,” Wazed said in his post on Tuesday.
An IT entrepreneur, Wazed lives in the US and has been an ICT advisor to Hasina’s government.
“The request for kangaroo tribunals and subsequent extradition comes when hundreds of leaders and activists have been extrajudicially killed, charged with indecent murders, thousands are illegally detained by law enforcement and violent attacks, including looting, vandalism and arson, continue with impunity on a daily basis. The regime,” he said. added
On Monday, India confirmed receiving a ‘note verbale’ or diplomatic communication from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi but declined to comment on it.
Under the provisions of the Indo-Bangladesh extradition treaty, extradition can be refused if the offense is of a “political character”. Bangladesh’s de facto foreign minister Tauhid Hussain said Dhaka wants Hasina to face judicial process.
wajed ICT Tribunal chief prosecutor Tajul Islam, appointed by the Yunus regime on December 22, has accused Hasina of “deliberately spreading false information”, claiming Interpol issued a red notice against Hasina despite her proven record of defending war criminals. “A desperate attempt to extradite him and try a ridiculous case for the benefit of Dr Yunus.”
“But the prosecutor later changed his statement after the blatant lies were exposed in the media and has now officially sent an extradition request to India,” Hasina’s son said.
“We reiterate our position that every case of human rights violations between July and August needs to be investigated independently and impartially, but the Yunus-led regime has weaponized the judiciary, and we express our distrust in the justice system.”
Last month, in an address to the nation to mark the completion of 100 days of the interim government, Yunus said Bangladesh would seek Hasina’s extradition. “We must ensure justice in every killing… We will also ask India to send back the fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina,” he had said then.
Yunus, who assumed office on August 8, claimed that during the protest against the Hasina government, around 1,500 people, including students and workers, were killed and 19,931 people were injured.
India has expressed concern over the increasing number of incidents of attacks on minorities, including the Hindu community, in Bangladesh for the past few months.
In recent weeks, Hasina has accused the Yunus-led interim government of “genocide” and failing to protect minorities, particularly Hindus.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri visited Dhaka two weeks ago during which he apprised the Bangladeshi side of India’s concerns, particularly those related to the security and welfare of minorities.
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