Staff Reporter:
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir yesterday described ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s application for a new passport and National Identity Card (NID) as “utterly ridiculous”, reiterating that Bangladesh would seek her return from India through the existing extradition treaty.
“She has been sentenced to death. Bangladesh does not issue passports to terrorists,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.
The state minister made the remarks when his attention was drawn to media reports that Hasina, currently staying in India, had sought fresh travel and identity documents through London-based law firm Matrix Chambers.
Kobir said the deposed prime minister, convicted of crimes against humanity, should be handed over to Bangladesh under the bilateral extradition treaty rather than return as an ordinary traveler.
“We have an active extradition treaty with India. You do not need a passport to bring back terrorists and criminals. This is a matter of handover, and a judicial process is already in place,” he said.
He questioned the rationale behind seeking a new passport for someone who had fled Bangladesh and was required to face the enforcement of a court verdict.
The state minister said Hasina’s return should take place through established legal and diplomatic procedures with the Indian authorities formally handing her over to Bangladesh.
“If she genuinely wants to return to Bangladesh, she should ask the Indian government to hand her over under the extradition treaty,” he said.
Kobir also strongly criticized the British law firm representing Hasina, questioning its ethical and professional judgment in taking up the case.
“My first question to that law firm is very simple: Do you know who your client is?” he asked.
He alleged that Hasina had fled Bangladesh after being responsible for the deaths of more than 1,500 people and accused her government of widespread enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations.
The state minister urged the legal representatives to examine their client’s background and the gravity of the allegations before pursuing the application.
He said legal professionals should maintain ethical and moral standards rather than allowing financial considerations to determine their professional decisions.
Kobir warned that representing individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes without considering the ethical implications could damage the reputation of the legal representatives concerned.
