FOC with India to discuss Hasina’s extradition
Diplomatic Correspondent :
The Foreign Ministry is seeing the upcoming Foreign Office Consultation (FoC) with India to be held in December as a ‘scope’ to talk on the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who is currently staying there after being fled.
“It (extradition) is a political issue. However, there will be a scope to discuss it during the FOC in Dhaka. The matter will be clearer then- how we are looking at it and what we want,” Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Toufiq Hasan made the comments during a weekly briefing on Thursday.
Regarding any directive from the interim government on Hasina’s extradition, he said, “We have not yet got any directive from the highest level. If we get the direction we will start working on it.”
The Sheikh Hasina issue has become a tricky concern between the two countries. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) earlier issued order to produce Sheikh Hasina before the court within Nov 18. However, the time has been elapsed. Even the court has requested Interpol to help Bangladesh bring back Hasina home.
Meanwhile, the FOC was held in Delhi last year and as per the procedures it will be held in Dhaka in December. However, the date has not yet been fixed.
Toufiq, however, said that the FOC would discuss entire gamut of the bilateral relations including Visa issuance which is being slowed down from Indian part under the plea of the shortfall of manpower.
In reply to a question whether the interim government has started reviewing the existing agreements and memorandum of understanding (MoUs), he said that the process is under way.
“As the treaties and MoUs are signed with different ministries, it is a time-consuming matter and it will be let you know later,” he added.
Regarding misinformation spread by the Indian media, he said, “We have informed this issue to the Indian authority. Such issues are not at all desirable when it comes to the mutual relations.”
Drawing attention to slowing down Indian visa, the spokesperson said, “There is no progress. Only the emergency visas for medical and students are being issued.”
He also said that the Foreign Ministry has informed the concerned Indian authority
about the visa issues, which informed that they have shortfall of manpower.
In reply to another question about starting direct flight between Dhaka-Karachi, he said, “We have obtained a request from Pakistan in this regard. We have passed it to the civil aviation ministry to look into it. The matter is under process.”
The spokesperson also said that the second political dialogue at the Additional Secretary level between Bangladesh and Belgium will be held in Dhaka on November 24.
The discussions are expected to cover various aspects of bilateral and multilateral relations between the two countries. Additionally, there will be exchanges on EU-Bangladesh relations as well as global and regional issues.
Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Additional Foreign Secretary will lead the Bangladesh delegation, while Ambassador Jeroen Cooreman, Director General for Bilateral Affairs at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will lead the Belgian delegation.
Besides, Chief Prosecutor of International Criminal Court Karim Ahmad Khan would also visit Bangladesh from Nov 25-28. During his visit, he will meet with the Chief Advisor and the Foreign Secretary, and will also visit the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar.
The process of finalizing the proposed Witness Protection Protocol by the ICC Office of the Prosecutor is currently underway. Opinions from various ministries and agencies have been gathered on the matter, the spokesperson said.
