Hasina’s remarks meant motivating AL activists

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday said former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s repeated remarks about returning to Bangladesh appeared to be aimed at motivating Awami League leaders and activists who had gone into hiding following the party’s removal from power.

Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shama said she saw no other reason behind Hasina’s statements.

“I think she is making these remarks to awaken and encourage Awami League leaders and activists who have fled or are in hiding for political reasons. Other than that, I do not see any reason,” he said.

The state minister said Hasina was a convicted person and would have to face the country’s legal process if she surrendered.

“If she surrenders, action will be taken against her in accordance with the laws of Bangladesh. She will have to go to prison, and the law will take its own course,” he said. Responding to a question about where Hasina could surrender, Shama said the decision rested entirely with her.

“Is she an Indian citizen? What she does with the authorities there is her own matter. Whether a convicted person surrenders abroad or in Bangladesh is entirely up to that individual.

If she surrenders at a Bangladesh mission overseas or returns to Bangladesh to surrender, the legal process will be the same. She will have to go to prison and face the sentence imposed on her,” she said.

The state minister further said the government had already initiated the necessary diplomatic and legal procedures available with other countries and that the process remained ongoing.

“Our established diplomatic process with other countries is continuing. If any convicted person surrenders, whatever is required under the existing laws of Bangladesh will be carried out,” she said.

Asked whether the government attached any importance to Hasina’s political statements from abroad, Shama said the government would not respond to the comments of a convicted individual.

“A convicted person has already been sentenced under the laws of Bangladesh. The legal process is already in motion. There is no need to begin any new process,” she said.

Replying to another question on whether the government would formally protest to India over Hasina’s remarks, as was done during the interim administration, the state minister said bilateral discussions with India covered a range of issues and that not every matter was made public.

“There is no need to issue statements on everything. We have ongoing discussions and exchanges with India, and these matters are part of those discussions,” she said,

“Whether a convicted person abroad surrenders or not, the judicial process remains the same. The government’s existing process is continuing,” she said.