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| Sheikh Hasina Passport, NID Request: Govt Points to Extradition Treaty |
If Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister ousted in the July mass uprising, wants to return to the country, the government will take the necessary steps under the existing extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said this yesterday, Monday afternoon, when Hasina's return came up at a meeting of the BNP parliamentary party at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, according to sources at the meeting.
The meeting was held in the treasury-bench meeting room of Parliament ahead of the start of the fourth session of the 13th Parliament, and was chaired by the Leader of the House and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Several MPs present said the Prime Minister made no remarks on the rumours of Sheikh Hasina's return. However, he said by way of hint, "We took to the streets on 7 November. We will remain on the streets. We have to counter all conspiracies while staying on the streets."
Yesterday, Reuters reported that Sheikh Hasina has sought a new passport and National Identity Card (NID) in order to return home. Lawyers from Matrix Chambers, a London-based legal consultancy, wrote on her behalf to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. In the letter addressed to Acting High Commissioner Preeti Rahman, they said that Sheikh Hasina's Bangladeshi passport and NID were reportedly cancelled by the former interim government and other authorities. In this situation, they requested that the necessary steps be taken to issue a new Bangladeshi passport and NID for their client. Notably, in an interview given to Reuters last July, Sheikh Hasina expressed her wish to return home in December and surrender to the court.
At yesterday's meeting of the BNP parliamentary party, the matter of the return of Sheikh Hasina, president of the banned Awami League, was discussed briefly. In this context, the Home Minister said there is an extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India, and the government will take the necessary steps in accordance with rules, laws, and established practice. Earlier, at a press briefing on current issues at the Ministry of Home Affairs, he said the authenticity and legal basis of the reported application by Sheikh Hasina for a new passport and NID to return home were being verified.
An MP present at the meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they had been given guidance on what to say about Hasina's return. In this regard, a responsible minister said they had been told to say that if Sheikh Hasina wants to return, she would be sent back by India under the extradition treaty.
According to meeting sources, ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, the Prime Minister cautioned the Commerce Minister in advance to keep the prices of essential commodities tolerable. The Commerce Minister assured the Prime Minister that prices would not rise during Ramadan and the market would remain stable. The meeting also discussed ongoing road development work under the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Communications, as well as the fuel and power situation. The Prime Minister sought detailed information from several ministers about the activities of their respective ministries. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed briefed the meeting on the country's law and order situation.
Earlier yesterday, the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi received an email from Matrix Chambers, a London-based law firm, on behalf of the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, applying for a new passport and national identity card for her. Contacted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, it was learned that the mission has sent a message to Dhaka seeking further instructions regarding the email.
When this matter was brought to his attention, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir told Prothom Alo at the Foreign Ministry yesterday noon that there is no way of knowing whether the Matrix Chambers application is actually Sheikh Hasina's, because the email sent by the law firm contained no document or proof of Sheikh Hasina's "authorization." When an institution applies on someone's behalf, it holds that person's authorization.
Earlier, responding to journalists' questions, the State Minister said the basis of the UK legal consultancy's application is weak legally, ethically, and morally. He said any law firm should know who its client actually is. Their client is a person who fled Bangladesh after killing more than 1,500 people. He remarked that they should observe some ethical and professional limits rather than chase blood-stained money looted from the people of Bangladesh. He said such unethical representation of a fugitive terrorist would only bring them shame in the international arena.
The State Minister further said that no ordinary passport application would be effective in the case of fugitive criminals. Sheikh Hasina would be brought back and put on trial only through legal and diplomatic processes, via a prisoner exchange treaty.
Calling the application for a new passport and NID "utterly ridiculous," the State Minister said that if Sheikh Hasina truly wants to return, there is a specific legal process for her. There is no scope to return home with a new passport. There is an extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India. If she wishes, Sheikh Hasina can request the Indian government to hand her over to Bangladesh under that treaty. He also said she had spoken of returning, surrendering to the court, and serving her sentence.
First application seeking passport and NID
Reuters reported that this is Sheikh Hasina's first application related to a passport and NID since she fled to India on 5 August 2024 in the face of the student-people's uprising.
The letter also states that, considering Sheikh Hasina's Bangladeshi citizenship and Bangladesh's obligations under various international human rights treaties, her applications should be processed promptly.
Reuters contacted spokespeople for Preeti Rahman in New Delhi and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka for comment on this matter. However, the report noted that they did not immediately respond to Reuters' request.
Reuters reported that before its fall from power, the Awami League was Bangladesh's largest political party. After Sheikh Hasina's ouster, the party's activities were banned. Many of her party's leaders and activists are in jail. Many are in self-imposed exile in India or other countries.
Sheikh Hasina ruled Bangladesh as prime minister for a total of 20 years over various terms. She still has support among a section of the population. As the current government tries to restore stability after more than two years of unrest, Hasina's return could deepen political divisions.
On the other hand, Sheikh Hasina's return initiative could improve Bangladesh's strained relations with India. Relations between Dhaka and New Delhi deteriorated significantly after India gave her refuge.