Bangladesh tells India to return Sheikh Hasina for legal proceedings

Bangladesh has requested India to return former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to New Delhi in August, for a “judicial process,” according to the acting head of the country’s foreign ministry, Touhid Hossain, who spoke to reporters on Monday.

“We sent a note verbale to the Indian government requesting her (Hasina’s) return for judicial proceedings,” Hossain said, referring to diplomatic correspondence between the two countries.

India’s foreign ministry and Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, did not respond to requests for comment.

Along with Hasina, the inquiry involves her son, Joy, and niece, Tulip Siddiq, a British lawmaker and government minister.

The allegations were raised by Hasina’s political opponent, Bobby Hajjaj, chairman of the Nationalist Democratic Movement party, who filed a writ seeking investigation in the high court.

“We seek justice through our court,” Hajjaj told on Monday.

The key allegations involve the $12.65 billion Rooppur nuclear plant, Bangladesh’s first, which is funded by Moscow with a 90% loan. A commission statement on Monday revealed an inquiry into claims that Hasina and her family members embezzled $5 billion from the Rooppur plant through “offshore bank accounts in Malaysia.”

The inquiry is examining alleged “questionable procurement practices” related to the plant’s overpriced construction.

“The allegations of kickbacks, mismanagement, money laundering, and abuse of power raise serious concerns about the project’s integrity and public fund usage,” the commission said.

Additional graft allegations include theft from a government housing scheme for the homeless.

Hasina, 77, fled to India by helicopter on August 5, sparking anger among many Bangladeshis demanding she face trial for alleged “mass murder.”

Attempts to contact Hasina for comment were unsuccessful.

Tulip Siddiq has denied any involvement in the embezzlement claims, according to a statement from the British prime minister’s office. Joy, who is believed to be based in the United States, was also unavailable for comment.

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