Bangladesh is working with India to extradite 2 suspects in prominent activist’s murder

Dhaka, Bangladesh — Diplomatic efforts are being made with India to extradite two suspects in the December killing of a Bangladeshi political activist that sparked protests across the country, Bangladesh’s police chief said on Monday.

A special police team arrested two Bangladeshi nationals, Faisal Karim Masood and Alamgir Hossain, during a raid in Bongaon, a city in North 24 Parganas district of India’s West Bengal state, authorities in India said on Sunday.

The two are suspects in the December 12 shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, who was involved in the 2024 political coup that ended the 15-year rule of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. A few days after being shot in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, he was taken to Singapore for further treatment and died there on December 18.

An Indian court on Sunday ordered the trial of the two suspects, PTI news channel reported.

Bangladesh’s Inspector General of Police Mohammad Ali Hossain Fakir said on Monday that the Ministry of External Affairs was working to transfer the suspects through Bangladesh’s extradition treaty with India.

Separately, Bangladesh’s junior minister of foreign affairs, Shama Obed, said later on Monday that cooperation was expected from India in granting consular access and subsequent extradition of the suspects. Consular access is necessary for Bangladeshi authorities to confirm the suspects’ identities, he said.

Bangladesh is awaiting a response from India, he said.

Hadi was a student leader and spokesman for Inquilab Mancha, a youth group that promoted a cultural revolution in Bangladesh. His death sparked nationwide protests. Frantic protesters staged a rally in Dhaka and attacked the offices of the country’s two leading dailies.

Hadi’s supporters accused India and former Prime Minister Hasina of killing him. He was highly critical of India and Hasina, who fled to India after a mass uprising ended her rule in August 2024. Bangladeshi liberals blamed Hadi for promoting radical views as he built a strong following among young people and Islamists.

Police in Bangladesh had earlier identified a suspect in the killing but said he may have fled the country. Indian officials said the men had taken shelter in the border area of ​​Bongaon with the intention of returning to Bangladesh.