Staff Reporter :
The interim government reaffirmed its commitment on Sunday to bring back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who faces over 100 cases with various charges, to stand trial in Bangladesh, emphasizing that no nation should provide sanctuary to a ‘killer.’
“It is the nation’s aspiration to see her return. We remain optimistic,” stated Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy.
Addressing questions about the feasibility of achieving this during their tenure, Alam said political parties are key stakeholders in this matter and expressed hope that the incoming elected government would prioritize the issue, calling it a generational concern.
“We will exert all efforts. She must face trial. We believe that pressure will build continuously, and our efforts will persist,” he stated, adding that this pressure would be extended on a global scale.
Alam mentioned that no response had yet been received from the Indian government regarding the extradition request but affirmed that efforts to bring her back remain a top priority. “We will not back down from this mission,” he asserted.
India, meanwhile, has remained tight-lipped on Sheikh Hasina’s extradition request. Although Bangladesh is awaiting a reply, Indian officials have declined to comment further.
“As of a week ago, I confirmed that we have received a formal communication from the Bangladeshi authorities regarding former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Beyond that, there’s nothing new to share,” stated Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, on January 3.
On January 1, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain reiterated that fostering strong relationships with India, China, and the United States remains a key priority in 2025. He underscored that Dhaka’s ties with New Delhi would evolve beyond any single issue.
Speculations persist about the trajectory of Bangladesh-India relations this year if Dhaka’s request for Sheikh Hasina’s return remains unresolved. Adviser Hossain, however, noted that this is only one of many bilateral matters.
“We will address all issues concurrently. There are numerous shared interests between the two nations, and we will move forward with these in tandem,” Hossain concluded.
