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This special report covers the death sentence handed to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by an International Crimes Tribunal and Dhaka's subsequent demand for her extradition from India. The programme also details a tragic bus crash in Saudi Arabia that killed over 40 Indian Umrah pilgrims, including 18 members of one Hyderabad family, and other national news including political developments in Bihar and Karnataka. Reacting to the verdict, the ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, 'Every leader with the benefit of hindsight can identify decisions they might have approached differently'.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome. Good evening. You're watching Super 6 here on India Today.
00:04I'm Akshita Nanda Gopal. Lots lined up for you in this edition of Super 6.
00:08We're going to be focusing on the latest updates coming in on former Bangladesh Prime Minister
00:13Shekhar Sina being handed the death sentence and what India has to say about this,
00:17considering that she's currently camping in New Delhi.
00:20We'll also run you through that horrific tragedy that took place, in fact,
00:24of Umrah pilgrims dying, many of them from Hyderabad,
00:27so much so that 18 members of one family have been wiped out.
00:31Those details coming your way. As always, we begin with the top 10 stories of the day.
00:38International Crimes Tribunal is convicted and sentenced to ousted Prime Minister Shekhar Sina
00:43to death for her alleged role in the violent suppression of the 2024 protests.
00:50Shekhar Sina speaking exclusively to India Today condemned the judgment,
00:54calling it a biased decision. She said the judgment was delivered by what she described
00:59as a rigged tribunal, established and presided over by an unelected government.
01:05After the NDA's clean sweep in Bihar,
01:08Nitish Kumar is set to be sworn in for her third term as the Bihar Chief Minister on November 20th.
01:14Tensions within Lalu Yadav's family have escalated Rohini Acharya.
01:21Lalu's daughter has repeated her allegations against her own brother Tejasvi Yadav,
01:24saying she's disowned him.
01:26The rift widened as three more sisters reportedly left the Patna residence.
01:31But Lalu has backed Tejasvi.
01:33Let's also get you the latest on the Red 4 blast investigation.
01:39Sources say investigators believe the Delhi blast suspect,
01:43the bomber Umar, may have been a shoe bomber.
01:46According to officials, a metallic plate containing explosives was found in his footwear.
01:53Army Chief General Upendra Duvedi issued a strong warning to Pakistan,
01:57saying Operation Sindhu is just the trailer and the picture is still to come.
02:03Tragic, tragic incident in Saudi Arabia.
02:07A bus carrying Umrah pilgrims collided with a diesel tanker.
02:11This happened near Mufir Hath.
02:13The crash was severe.
02:14At least 42 Indian pilgrims, most from Hyderabad, have lost their lives.
02:22A major counterfeit ghee racket in Bengaluru has been busted,
02:25involving the popular Nandini brand, which is owned by the Karnataka Milk Federation.
02:29The main accused and authorized distributor was arrested,
02:32along with the Sun and two others.
02:38Chief Minister Sidra Maya and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shiv Kumar
02:42were seen having lunch together in the national capital.
02:45Sources say that the D.K. brothers, D.K. Shiv Kumar and D.K. Suresh,
02:49met with Congress Chief Kharge at his residence in Delhi
02:52to discuss the potential CM change.
02:55Now, meanwhile, Sidra Maya is expected to meet Kharge
02:57and Prime Minister Modi anytime now.
03:01Kerala is facing a political drawl following the alleged suicide
03:04of a Booth-level officer handling electoral duties.
03:07The BLO was found hanging yesterday in Karnur.
03:10This led to protests across Kerala.
03:12And let's begin with breaking news coming in.
03:24Bangladesh now in an official statement has sought the handover of Sheikh Hasina
03:28referring to the extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh.
03:32The UNIS government has said India must go ahead and extradite Sheikh Hasina.
03:36Remember that the former Bangladesh Prime Minister is currently based in Delhi
03:42at an unknown location.
03:44And it's based on that the D.K. has now issued a statement
03:47citing the extradition treaty and pushing for India to hand over Sheikh Hasina.
03:53Now, so far, the MEA has issued a statement.
03:57While they haven't responded to what Bangladesh has said,
03:59they've taken note of the death sentence, the death penalty for Sheikh Hasina.
04:04And here's what the MEA has said.
04:05As a close neighbour, India remains committed to the best interests
04:08of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability.
04:12We will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end.
04:17So that is the only statement that's come in so far from India.
04:21I want to bring in our Foreign Affairs Editor, Geeta Mohan.
04:24Also with us is Indrajeet Kundu, who's been tracking all the updates on this.
04:28Geeta, I'd like to begin with you on really what this means.
04:31The fact that we have an extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh.
04:34Does that mean India is now obligated to hand over Sheikh Hasina?
04:38Well, there is an extradition treaty, yes.
04:41There will be, the Bangladeshi administration will look at the obligatory angle to the treaty.
04:48But for now, this is also a political leader who fled the country in a very, very difficult time.
04:57And also, the violence that followed the protests is something that, you know, both sides,
05:04whether it's Awami League or for that matter, the Yunus regime have been questioning in terms of intent,
05:09who was involved, how did all this happen.
05:12So, for India, it is a very, very sensitive issue.
05:16And therefore, you can see, Akshita, the statement is also very carefully drafted.
05:20They're not committing to an extradition.
05:22They're also not committing to not engaging stakeholders, which include the current regime in Bangladesh.
05:29Having said that, Sheikh Hasin has already said that they're an unelected government.
05:33And this is a biased trial, and it was not fair.
05:39It was not done fairly.
05:40So, the Indian administration has a few options.
05:43One is that they can engage Bangladesh, they can engage Dhaka on ensuring that there is no death sentence.
05:50Else, sending her would mean India would be losing Bangladesh completely.
05:55Because BNP, pro-Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami, pro-Pakistan, and Awami League, that has always been a friend of India,
06:04India will lose all stakes in Bangladesh should they decide to send Sheikh Hasina,
06:08who has a death sentence or death penalty, against her in Dhaka.
06:13The other option that the Indian administration was considering in the past, according to sources,
06:19reports that we've seen, was getting her to a third country that does not have an extradition treaty with Bangladesh,
06:27has influence over Bangladesh, and may not be very akin to sending or repatriating her to Dhaka.
06:35So, that's another option.
06:37But for now, it doesn't seem like India is going to extradite Sheikh Hasina anytime soon.
06:42We'll have to wait and see how the diplomacy plays out over here.
06:46Okay, thanks, Keita, for those details.
06:48I'll bring in Indrajeet Kundu also for more on this.
06:50Indrajeet, in the face of it, from what Geita tells us,
06:53an extradition treaty doesn't immediately, you know, equal Hasina's handover,
06:58or the fact that she will immediately be moved back to Bangladesh.
07:01So, in such a circumstance, what really is the UNIS government planning to do?
07:08Well, you know, this is as much playing to the political gallery.
07:12Remember, Sheikh Hasina remains a sore thumb as far as Indo-Bangladesh relationship at this point in time is concerned.
07:22For the UNIS government, given the prevailing situation on the ground, the sentiments on the ground,
07:27it doesn't have much of an option but to continuously remind India that Sheikh Hasina is a political fugitive,
07:33that she has now been indicted by a sovereign court in Bangladesh.
07:38Bangladesh is a sovereign country and therefore law must take its own court course.
07:42But the issue here, of course, is that even though India and Bangladesh does have an extradition treaty,
07:47what is Sheikh Hasina's status in India?
07:51Is she on a political asylum?
07:54That's not very clear.
07:55Indian government hasn't clarified that in the past one year since Sheikh Hasina was given shelter here.
08:01Is it a temporary shelter?
08:03Is it an official political asylum?
08:04These are things that will have to be, you know, spoken out.
08:08The statement crafted by the Ministry of External Affairs is very, very cautious.
08:12It calls about, you know, friend relationships with Bangladesh.
08:15You know, one really doesn't have much of an option beyond that, it seems.
08:19And therefore, the Indian establishment is looking at the flux in Bangladesh very, very closely.
08:26Within two to three months' time, in February next year,
08:29Bangladesh is supposed to have a general election at that point in time.
08:33So in that backdrop, where the Awami League clearly is not going to be able to participate because they have been banned,
08:39so India will have to, you know, take every step very, very carefully.
08:43Alright, thanks Indrajeet for getting us all of those details.
08:46Let's put the focus now on what happens next.
08:50Sheikh Hasina, of course, has been awarded the death sentence for, in fact, her role.
08:55And this is based on a tribunal that was set up to look into what happened in 2024 that ultimately led to her ouster.
09:02Bangladesh could push for extradition through treaty.
09:04They've already issued a statement to that effect, but they could then tell India that,
09:08look, because we have an extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh, you have to hand her over.
09:13But ultimately, it's the Indian government that can take a call on Hasina's extradition.
09:18It's not mandatory for Sheikh Hasina to be handed over.
09:22And one of the top issues that will be raised is that the decision has been taken by an unelected regime.
09:28That, in a way, could be a protective factor for Sheikh Hasina.
09:32She could choose to and remain in Delhi because of the fact that the government, the Indian government,
09:37could say, look, we don't have to abide by this decision because an unelected regime is currently in Bangladesh.
09:44So Sheikh Hasina remains safe as long as she stays outside Bangladesh.
09:48If she's extradited by any course that happens, then she will face the death sentence that's been handed to her.
09:55And so her game plan is going to be simple, to ensure that no matter what, she stays put in the national capital
10:01or perhaps goes to some other country where there's no extradition treaty with Bangladesh.
10:06Let's run you through what's happened in the last few hours.
10:09This is the International Crimes Tribunal that sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death.
10:14Now, they've said this is for crimes against humanity over her government's rather violent crackdown on student-led protests last year.
10:21The court held that Hasina knew about the firing on students and used legal weapons against protesters,
10:27calling it a grave violation of human rights.
10:30Now, right after this, Sheikh Hasina, speaking to India Today, said this was a rigged verdict.
10:36Let's get you all of those details.
10:42Dhaka is erupting again.
10:44Streets packed with protesters, police in full gear and a capital bracing for unrest.
10:51Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal on Monday sentenced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death
10:59for the crackdown she ordered on student protesters in 2024 that led to the loss of many lives.
11:06As the verdict was read out, the courtroom erupted with claps, cheers.
11:10The tribunal found Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity, including conspiracy to commit mass killings.
11:22The tribunal held that the former prime minister knowingly authorized a brutal state crackdown.
11:27The court ordered death sentence on the charge of Hasina ordering to kill protesters and on the charge of Hasina's failure to prevent atrocities.
11:37She committed the same crime, same crime, that is the crime against humanity on another count
11:46for causing the killings
11:49at Ashulia of Sabar.
11:54Killing of six persons.
11:55For all these three counts, we have decided to inflict her with only one sentence, that is sentence of death.
12:08And while the courtroom celebrated, outside members of a party, Awami League, took to the streets, protesting the judgment,
12:20calling it judicial assassination and warning of a dark precedent.
12:26With tensions climbing, Dhaka is now under an unprecedented security blanket.
12:31Sheikha Sina is currently in India, where she has taken asylum, at a time when her country finds itself at crossroads.
12:44Reacting to the verdict, oust Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikha Sina called the ruling biased,
12:50politically motivated and issued by a rigged tribunal with no democratic mandate.
12:56The Awami League will not be allowed to participate as they are barred from any kind of election.
13:01A death sentence handed down.
13:04A party barred, a nation unsettled.
13:08Bangladesh's political future now hangs in the balance.
13:12We have a report, India Today.
13:18Now what exactly are the charges against Sheikha Sina?
13:22Why has she been convicted and even sentenced to death?
13:25At the heart of it is the anti-cota student protest that had dropped Bangladesh in June and July of 2024,
13:31that ultimately led to her ouster as Bangladesh Prime Minister.
13:36She has today regretted her mishandling of the student protest and inability to gauge their mood.
13:41But she also maintains, like I said, that the verdict is uncalled for,
13:45for the death penalty to be issued against her.
13:48She has also said that attempts are being made to end her political party.
13:52Let's break down for you in our next report exactly what led to Sheikha Sina's trial and conviction.
13:5878-year-old Sheikha Sina Vazid is once again in India.
14:11In her second exile, she is a fugitive convicted in absentia to death by a court in Dhaka for crimes against humanity.
14:19The oustered Prime Minister of Bangladesh has been barred from contesting.
14:24Her party, Avami League, is banned under Anti-Terrorism Act.
14:29Night before the verdict, in an audio message to her supporters,
14:33Sheikha Sina has already rubbished all charges brought against her.
14:36Sheikha Sina Vazid.
15:06In June 2024, students of Bangladesh erupted in protest against the Supreme Court of Bangladesh's decision
15:13to reinstate the 30% reservation quota for descendants of freedom fighters.
15:18This reversed the earlier government decision to remove this reservation
15:22in response to the quota reform movement of 2018.
15:26When students refused to back down,
15:29Sheikha Sina, in one of her public addresses, accused them as Razakar descendants.
15:34The use of the most hated word in Bangladesh,
15:37Razakar meaning those who helped the perpetrators against the freedom fighters
15:42during Bangladesh's Mukti Juddho,
15:44made students' protest grow in intensity.
15:49If the grandchildren of Mukti Juddha can't qualify for reservation,
15:53is it to be given to Razakars?
15:54Hasina's government allegedly let police and security forces violently crack down on protests,
16:03leading to the death and imprisonment of hundreds.
16:06The death of the 25-year-old Abu Saeed from Rokeya University in Rangpur became a symbol of the protest
16:14as he stood in defiance spreading his hands, inviting police to open fire on him.
16:20He was shot at and declared brought dead in the hospital.
16:24The student's protest became anti-Hasina and aimed at ousting her from power.
16:29Here, the most sensitive thing is the matter of the students.
16:38We must make sure that they won't get harmed.
16:41We have tried by the efforts of our police and all our forces.
16:46When arson started, the protesting students said they were not involved in it,
16:51and we condemn it.
16:52We don't want it.
16:53When they pulled off from the protest, I deployed the army.
16:57Only then did I deploy them.
17:00I did not do it before that, before the students pulled off from the protest.
17:05Many accused me of deploying army against the students.
17:09I, myself, was involved in student politics.
17:12My politics started from Dhaka University.
17:15I know what the army could do.
17:18Shabit, the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islam, BNP,
17:21and Jamaat, together, are behind all these incidents and murders.
17:30Dhaka turned into a battleground.
17:33And finally, on 5th August 2024,
17:36Sheikh Hasina had to flee Dhaka and seek refuge in India.
17:40When asked if she wants to do things differently
17:43in a text interview to India Today from an undisclosed location,
17:47the exiled and now convicted Bangladesh Prime Minister
17:50did agree that she failed to read the emotions of the students.
17:55She said, and I quote,
17:57Every leader with the benefit of hindsight
17:59can identify decisions they might have approached differently.
18:03Looking back, I recognize that certain grievances,
18:07particularly around government job quotas,
18:09could have been addressed through more extensive dialogue and engagement.
18:13We had mechanisms in place for this,
18:16as we had shown in the past,
18:19but perhaps we could have acted more swiftly.
18:21If the situation had not deteriorated,
18:24we would also have been able to complete the independent inquiry
18:27we launched immediately after the first casualties.
18:31This was extinguished by Yunus when he seized power.
18:35But I regret that we were not able to give the bereaved families
18:39of those who tragically lost their lives the answer they deserve.
18:43Sadly, the so-called investigations that have been undertaken
18:47by the interim government have just been scapegoating exercises
18:51aimed at discrediting the Awami League for narrow political purposes.
18:56Unquote.
18:56Sheikh Hasina was once celebrated as the torchbearer of democracy in Bangladesh.
19:03But at 15 years, as the Prime Minister,
19:06has been tarnished with the blood of innocent students.
19:09And the septuagenarian leader stands at the worst crossroad of her life today.
19:14With everything that she, her father,
19:16Bongo Bondu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,
19:19her party, Awami League, had built since Bangladesh was formed,
19:22is now being dabbed in black by her fellow countrymen.
19:26To be marked out in Bangladesh's history as the darkest of all.
19:31Bureau Report, India Today.
19:41Heartbreaking tragedy that was reported today of Umrah pilgrims.
19:45Almost 42 Indians perishing in a massive bus fire that had taken place.
19:51And 18, 18 members of a single household of one family have perished in this tragedy.
19:59Essentially, three generations that have been lost in this tragedy.
20:02You see the picture on your screens.
20:04There are toddlers, children, senior citizens, all belonging to one family.
20:0918 of them who have died in this unfortunate incident that has taken place.
20:15They all belonged to Hyderabad.
20:17You can only imagine the pain, the grief that the rest of the family members are going through right now.
20:24But this is horrifying, really, truly.
20:26And difficult, really, to wrap your head around the fact that 18 members of a family have perished in this tragedy.
20:33Three generations wiped out just like that.
21:00Among the 40-plus people, Indians who have died in this tragedy, 18 members of one family.
21:07Apoorva Jayachandran is joining us with more details on this.
21:10Apoorva, this is as heartbreaking as it gets.
21:13We've been speaking to so many families who have lost their loved ones in what was supposed to be a memorable holy trip.
21:19Well, that's right, Akshita.
21:24In fact, it's a very tragic event that took place earlier this morning.
21:28In fact, the families of the victims whom we had spoken here to early this morning as well,
21:33they said they were shocked to hear that this accident of such a vast gravity had taken place.
21:39You know, they said that they had just spoken with their loved ones late last night,
21:43who had been very happy that they had finished their Umrah pilgrimage
21:46and that they were scheduled to also return back to Hyderabad by next week
21:50after traveling, you know, to Medina from Mecca and having a, you know, trip there as well.
21:55And unfortunately, you know, so many people have lost their lives in this accident as well.
22:00We are getting to learn that one particular family here in Hyderabad,
22:0418 people have lost their lives, including young ones as well,
22:07while from several other areas as well, four to five people from a family
22:11each have lost their lives in this tragic accident.
22:14In fact, the Telangana state government has already announced an exhibition
22:18of Rs. 5 lakhs to the families of the victims who have died in this tragic accident.
22:23We are getting to learn that several people are still receiving treatment
22:27in the hospitals there in Saudi,
22:29but the Telangana government has arranged for special nodal officers
22:33who will be traveling to Saudi Arabia,
22:35who will be traveling there to take stock of the situation on ground.
22:39And not only that, you know, top readers from the Telangana Congress government
22:42will be going there and looking into the relief and rescue measures
22:46and ensure that the bodies of those who have lost their lives in this tragic accident
22:50or those who have, you know, who are getting treatment,
22:54they will be transferred and returned back safely to India and Hyderabad at the earliest.
22:58So all steps being taken by the state government
23:00to help these families in this time of grief.
23:03Thanks, Apoorva, for those details.
23:04Again, let me highlight that that picture you see on your screens,
23:0718 members of one family all have died in that trip,
23:12all the Umrah pilgrims.
23:13Little children, men, women, senior citizens,
23:17all perished in that tragedy.
23:18That's all we have time for in this edition of Super 6.
23:24Thanks very much for tuning in.
23:26We'll see you next time.
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