OVER FOUR months after former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India following massive protests that brought down her 16-year-old regime, Dhaka has sent a diplomatic note asking New Delhi to send her back.
The development has the potential to impact bilateral ties — already under strain since Hasina’s arrival on August 5 — and will need some deft diplomacy.
Sent a note verbale (diplomatic message) to the Indian government saying that Bangladesh wants her back here for the judicial process,
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several of her former ministers, advisers, military and civil officials for “crimes against humanity and genocide“.
Explained
Space for refusal
The India-Bangladesh extradition treaty has provisions for refusing requests, including if the offence is of “political nature”, or an accusation has not been “made in good faith in the interests of justice”, or military offences which are not “an offence under the general criminal law”.
While describing the India-Bangladesh relationship as “very solid” and “close”, Yunus had asked India to help clear the “clouds” that had cast a shadow over the relationship in recent times.
Notes Verbale
A note verbale is written on the sending entity’s letterhead, and stamped with that entity’s seal, but not signed. It is written in the third person.
Notes verbale are the commonest method of formal diplomatic communication.
They are used to convey information or requests of all kinds. However, there are more formal types of diplomatic communication.
A demarche is a more formal type of communication of one government’s official position, views, or wishes on a given subject to an appropriate official in another government.
According to the US Department of State, “demarches generally seek to persuade, inform, or gather information from a foreign government. Governments may also use a demarche to protest or object to actions by a foreign government”.
A note verbale is also much less formal than a demi official (DO).
With reference to the India-Bangladesh extradition treaty, consider the following statements:
1. The treaty allows refusal of extradition requests for offences of a political nature.
2. Military offences that do not fall under general criminal law are excluded from the scope of extradition.
3. Extradition requests can only be processed if they serve the interests of justice and are made in good faith.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1, 2, and 3
(d) 2 and 3 only
Which of the following provisions of the Constitution does India have a bearing on Education? (2012)
1. Directive Principles of State Policy
2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies
3. Fifth Schedule
4. Sixth Schedule
5. Seventh Schedule
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3, 4 and 5 only
(c) 1, 2 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Read more: Good Governance Day
