India remains committed to best interests of people of Bangladesh: MEA on Hasina verdict
New Delhi (PTI): Hours after a special tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to death, India on Monday said it noted the verdict and that it will 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 comes months before parliamentary elections in Bangladesh.
Hasina's Awami League party has been barred from contesting the elections scheduled to be held in February.
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
