‘Nothing possible if India declines Hasina’s return’

Diplomatic Correspondent :

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said that Dhaka has little room to act on the return of convicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unless India agrees to send her back.

“Tell me, what can we do here? What is there to be done? There is not much, really. India must agree, or must want, to send her back. If they do not agree, there is nothing we can do. All we can do is continue trying to persuade them. That’s it,” he said while speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

Recently Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the return of Sheikh Hasina was solely depending on her decision.

Following such remarks, journalists asked the foreign adviser about the position of Dhaka and he came up with the remarks.

He, however, said that Dhaka would continue its diplomatic efforts to bring her back as she has been convicted in the crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising last year.
In reply to another question on whether Sheikh Hasina intends to remain in India or move to a third country, Hossain said, “I have heard about it like you. I did not receive anything about it through diplomatic channel. I have nothing to do here. Bangladesh has also nothing to do. We expect she should return.”

Sheikh Hasina fled to India after being removed from office on 5 August. A Bangladeshi court subsequently convicted her in multiple cases. Following the latest verdict of the International Crimes Tribunal-1 last month, Dhaka sent a second formal letter to New Delhi through the Bangladesh High Commission requesting her return.

Earlier, the adviser had said that Bangladesh was awaiting India’s response on the matter. On 17 November, the tribunal sentenced Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death for crimes against humanity during last year’s July-August uprising.

Commenting on Pakistan’s recent remarks about forming a new regional bloc excluding India, Hossain said Bangladesh could join such a grouping if it wished. “Nepal or Bhutan cannot group with Pakistan without India. Leaving us aside, they cannot. But we can. What he (Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar) said may perhaps progress at some point in the future.”

A trilateral initiative involving Bangladesh, China and Pakistan has recently begun, with the possibility of expanding to other countries within and beyond the region. Speaking at the “Islamabad Conclave” forum, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar said his country does not believe in a zero-sum approach where the gain of one is the loss of another.

Asked about the prospects of lifting US sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Hossain said the process is ongoing. “Let’s see how much we can do. RAB has shown clear progress. Many acknowledge this. Compared to what happened 15 years ago… there may still be some allegations, but there has been substantial improvement. This government is fully committed to ensuring no human rights violations, no enforced disappearances, no extrajudicial killings.”
Responding to a question about whether the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) might be shut down, the adviser said, “Institutions like DGFI exist in every country. So there is no scope to abolish it on the basis of a UN recommendation.”

When asked about concerns raised by rights organisations, including Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), over 29 alleged extrajudicial killings in the past 11 months, the adviser said he did not have detailed information.

“The Home Ministry can speak on this better. No organisation has lodged a complaint at my level, at least not yet,” he said.

On the long-standing discussions with the United States regarding the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), Hossain said, “Let it progress a bit further. Talks have been going on for a long time.”

He also spoke about visa-related complications faced by Bangladeshis. According to him, such problems will persist unless the creation of fake documents is stopped. He added that issuing student visas is entirely the prerogative of the respective countries.

Regarding the opening of new missions abroad, Hossain said the process is time-consuming. Although several missions have been approved, financial constraints mean they cannot be opened immediately.
The Foreign Adviser also said that US Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur would soon visit Dhaka on a brief trip.