DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) 鈥 Bangladesh has sent a formal request to India to extradite ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to New Delhi in August amid the student-led protests that ended her 15 years in power, the country鈥檚 foreign affairs adviser said Monday.
Md Touhid Hossain told reporters at his office in Dhaka that the country has sent a diplomatic note to India鈥檚 Foreign Ministry. 鈥淲e have informed India about our request to bring her back for the judicial process,鈥 Hossain said. He didn't give details.
India鈥檚 Foreign Ministry said it had received Bangladesh鈥檚 request but didn't immediately provide details.
Hasina's son, in a statement posted on his Facebook page, criticized the move hours after Monday's request by the interim government, questioning the process and credibility of a tribunal that is dealing with the charges against her.
鈥淭he judges and prosecutors appointed by unelected ... regime to conduct farcical trial process through International Crimes Tribunal makes it a political witch hunt that forsakes justice and marks another ongoing onslaught to prosecute (Hasina's) Awmai League leadership,鈥 said Sajeeb Wazed, her son.
鈥淭he Kangaroo tribunal and subsequent request for (Hasina's) extradition comes while hundreds of leaders and activists are extrajudicially killed, framing of outrageous murder charges, illegal incarceration of thousands by law enforcement and violent attacks including looting, vandalism and arson are going on with impunity everyday fueled by denial of the regime,鈥 he said.
Hasina fled to India after being ousted in a mass uprising in July and August in which authorities say hundreds of people were killed and thousands more injured. She faces many court cases over the deaths, including some on charges of crimes against humanity.
The Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal has issued and her close aides, and the government has sought help from the international police organization .
Last month, , the country鈥檚 interim leader, said his administration would seek Hasina's extradition.
The interim government also has promised to try Hasina and others in her administration for alleged crimes involving the uprising against her and has invited the to help investigate the killings.
, saying many deaths may have involved others beyond security agencies.
New York-based Human Rights Watch said in October that with an arrest warrant out for Hasina, the Yunus-led government should amend laws to abolish capital punishment involving the tribunal to ensure a fair and impartial judicial process.
The group had said that unless the government issues a moratorium on the death penalty and makes amendments to ensure a fair trial, the foreign governments sheltering Hasina and her close aides and former Cabinet ministers shouldn't extradite them to face trial.
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Julhas Alam contributed to this report.