Government wants Sheikh Hasina brought back under extradition treaty, says Information Adviser Zahed

Ousted former prime minister and convicted accused Sheikh Hasina will have to be brought back from India through the prisoner exchange treaty, Information Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Zahed Ur Rahman has said.

He made the remarks at the government's weekly press conference at the Secretariat on Tuesday (10 November), where he briefed on various government activities.

He said Sheikh Hasina is a convicted accused in crimes against humanity. Bangladesh has an extradition treaty with India to bring her back, and under that treaty Bangladesh has formally asked for her return several times. The adviser said there should therefore be no reason for the Indian government to object to the extradition.

Asked about India's remarks about legal complications in bringing back Sheikh Hasina, the adviser said, "She herself wants to come. That means she does not need to go to court. She said, extradite me. She was supposed to come and face it. So I do not see the legal process or the legal complications that have been talked about regarding extradition."

Zahed Ur Rahman said Sheikh Hasina is a convicted accused, and the nature of her crime must be understood. Ordinary murder and crimes against humanity are not the same thing. He said, "A hundred murders, five hundred murders are one thing. And crimes against humanity are another thing. These are two different things. I hope our people understand the difference between the two. She is guilty of that crime."

Citing Article 47 of the Constitution, the Prime Minister's adviser said the Constitution has special provisions on fundamental rights for people accused of crimes against humanity. Not all fundamental rights will apply to a person convicted of such crimes.

He added, "Our government believes we will extradite a convicted accused. The Indian government has to let us do that. The Indian government should not have any problem at this moment. Because the person to be extradited herself wants to come."

Explaining the process of bringing Sheikh Hasina back, Zahed Ur Rahman said Bangladesh has an extradition treaty with India. If a criminal flees to another country and information about their whereabouts is available, the government can request their arrest and handover to Bangladesh under that treaty. He said the Indian government has also acknowledged that Sheikh Hasina is in India. After she went to India, the government there also made a statement on the matter in its Parliament.

The Prime Minister's adviser said there is a court verdict in Bangladesh against Sheikh Hasina. The government has contacted India several times through formal diplomatic channels seeking her return. The next steps in the extradition process will now be followed.

However, he said, not only bringing Sheikh Hasina back matters to the government; following the proper legal and diplomatic process in bringing her back is equally important.

Zahed Ur Rahman said, "It matters to Bangladesh. Because we have a serious criminal, a convicted accused — she is supposed to be in jail, she is supposed to go to jail, and then she is supposed to face trial. She is absconding. So we want to get her through the very process we are supposed to get her."

Asked about Sheikh Hasina's passport application, Zahed Ur Rahman said Sheikh Hasina herself has not yet applied for a passport. The Press Minister of Bangladesh in Delhi had already informed about the matter.

The adviser said a letter has been received from a law firm seeking arrangements to issue her a passport. But that is not her own application. He said, "A letter has been received from a law firm, which says arrangements should be made to give it to her. But she has not made any application." For that reason, he said, there is no need for fresh discussion on the passport issue.

Asked about the publication of the full copy of the verdict given against Sheikh Hasina by the International Crimes Tribunal, Zahed Ur Rahman said the short verdict has been published. The detailed verdict may also be published. However, he did not confirm whether the full verdict has been published.

Asked about the government's reaction to various meetings and activities in the diplomatic quarter, he said the government has no information on the matter, so there is nothing to react to. Asked whether Sheikh Hasina and her party might try to put the government under political pressure, Zahed Ur Rahman said they may try, but the government is not giving the matter importance.

He said the government's aim is to bring Sheikh Hasina back to the country and make her face justice, and the process by which she is brought back is equally important to the government.