Staff Reporter:
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Sunday said the government is following due legal procedures to bring ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh, describing her as a convicted criminal.
“To me, she is a criminal. She is a convict, sentenced by our tribunal. That is her identity to us. Legal procedures are underway to bring her back,” he said.
The minister made the remarks after inaugurating a workshop on ‘Integrity in Judicial Proceedings’ organised by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) at a hotel in Dhaka.
“Whatever needs to be done legally concerning Sheikh Hasina, we are doing that through due process. You will see how we deal with it legally when we take any steps. There is no room for emotion here. The matter is that I will enforce the law. If we fail to enforce the law properly, then you can question us,” he said.
Asked whether the government would fight a legal battle in an Indian court to bring her back, the minister said it is a matter for the Indian government.
“We have sent a request to them under the extradition treaty. If they hand her over to us, we will bring her under the law through due process in the manner required,” he said.
When a journalist questioned the extradition treaty, saying Hasina was staying in India as a state guest rather than being held as a prisoner, Asaduzzaman said her status as described by Indian authorities did not change Bangladesh’s position.
“They may say whatever they want, but that is not enough. She was tried in an open court in my country. Since you are raising this question, first consider whether 1,400 people were killed during the July Revolution and whether 30,000 people were left disabled,” he said.
He also questioned whether the trial had any shortcomings, whether it was held behind closed doors and whether witnesses had been allowed to testify.
“We have sent the request that is required under due process to bring her back. That is what I am saying,” the minister added.
