India remains committed to best interests of people of Bangladesh: Ministry of External Affairs on Sheikh Hasina verdict

The MEA does not comment on Dhaka's call to extradite Hasina, who has been sentenced her to death by the International Crimes Tribunal

New Delhi: Hours after a special tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death on Monday, India said it noted the verdict and that it would engage constructively with all stakeholders considering peace, democracy and stability in the neighbouring country.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India remains committed to the best interests of people of Bangladesh.

Hasina was found guilty of crimes against humanity by the country's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) and it sentenced her to death. Hasina's aide and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also given a death sentence on similar charges.

Hasina, the Awami League leader, has been living in India since she fled Bangladesh on August 5 last year in the face of the massive protests.

"India has noted the verdict announced by the 'International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh' concerning former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," the MEA said.

"As a close neighbour, India remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country," it said.

"We will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end," the MEA added.

However, it did not comment on Dhaka's call to extradite Hasina.

Following the verdict, Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry demanded that Hasina be immediately handed over under an extradition treaty in view of her sentencing.

"This is also a duty for India, as per the extradition treaty existing between the two countries," it said.

In her reaction, Hasina said the judgement has been made by a "rigged tribunal established and presided over by an unelected government with no democratic mandate".

"They are biased and politically motivated. In their distasteful call for the death penalty, they reveal the brazen and murderous intent of extremist figures within the interim government to remove Bangladesh's last elected Prime Minister, and to nullify the Awami League as a political force," she said in a statement.

Hasina said she was not afraid to face her "accusers" in a proper tribunal where the evidence can be weighed and tested fairly. "That is why I have repeatedly challenged the interim government to bring these charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague."

The verdict came months before parliamentary elections in Bangladesh.

Hasina's Awami League has been barred from contesting the elections, scheduled to be held in February.

(With PTI inputs)