Pakistan Calls Sheikh Hasina Death Sentence Bangladesh’s ‘Internal Matter’

Pakistan claimed on Friday that the recent death sentence for Sheikh Hasina, the former prime leader of Bangladesh, was an “internal matter” for the nation and that its citizens were more than capable of resolving their own problems.

After a months-long trial, a Bangladeshi court judged Hasina guilty of directing a violent crackdown on a student-led rebellion last year and sentenced her to death on Monday.

The decision was made months before the anticipated early February legislative elections.

Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi responded to a number of questions about the development during his weekly news briefing today, saying, “This is an internal matter of Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh are fully capable of addressing their issues in accordance with their own democratic and constitutional processes.”

Fifteen months after resigning and escaping to India in the face of a student-led rebellion that claimed hundreds or more lives, Hasina was convicted by a trial in the capital city of Dhaka of ordering lethal force.

The International Crimes Tribunal’s decision, which Hasina established to investigate war crimes from Bangladesh’s 1971 battle for independence from Pakistan, was a significant turning point in her political career, which started when she escaped death during the 1975 coup because she was in Europe.

Following the imposition of the sentence, the government of Bangladesh informed India that it would be extremely unfriendly and an insult to justice if she was not returned.

“Under the existing extradition treaty between the two nations, this is a binding obligation for India,” Bangladesh’s foreign ministry had stated in a remark.

However, all prior attempts to convince New Delhi to return her have failed.

“The best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including peace, democracy, inclusion, and stability in that country,” New Delhi declared. To that purpose, we shall always interact positively with all parties involved.

The development also coincided with a thaw in relations between Islamabad and Dhaka, as bilateral relations and trade significantly improved.