Bangladesh has welcomed ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s plan to return to Dhaka and said she will have to face justice as a death row convict. Sheikh Hasina, 78, is living in India after coming from Dhaka in case the government falls in August 2024 following massive protests against it. Last week, sources close to Hasina said that she is preparing to return to Dhaka on her own free will by the end of this year to reinvigorate her Awami League party.
What did Bangladesh say?
Reacting to the development, Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Advisor Zahed Ur Rehman challenged Hasina to call the world’s best lawyers to Dhaka to defend her against charges of crimes against humanity arising out of her government’s brutal crackdown on student-led protests in 2024.
“We welcome his announcement because we want to ensure justice,” Rehman said at a media briefing. He further said, “The people of the country want the death sentence given to them for their crimes to be upheld and in that case they will be given death penalty because that is what people want to see.” Rahman said that the proceedings of the International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh) will be transparent and observers will be able to monitor them and it can also be broadcast through video coverage.
Rahman said that such cases have come to light in the past also in which the decisions of the ICT-BD formed during the Awami League rule in 2010 were stayed or overturned. Rehman said procedural issues would not hinder their return and Delhi could make necessary arrangements after discussing the matter with Dhaka.
What did India say?
India, on the other hand, reacted cautiously to Hasina’s plans and said there has been no change in its stand on the matter. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “There is no change in our stand on this matter. Any extradition case is legal and will be dealt with accordingly.”
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