Returning Sheikh Hasina a Bangladesh-India bilateral issue: Zahed Ur Rahman

The government sees the matter of bringing back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is staying in India, as a bilateral issue between Dhaka and New Delhi. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Zahed Ur Rahman said there is no need for the involvement of any third country in this process.

He made these remarks in response to journalists' questions at a weekly briefing on the progress of various government activities held at the conference room of the Department of Information at the Secretariat on Tuesday, September 29.

Zahed Ur Rahman said Bangladesh wants to bring Sheikh Hasina back to the country, and communication and discussions with India on the matter are continuing. He said the cases pending and disposed of against her in Bangladesh's courts and the court verdicts are also under discussion.

The Information Adviser said regular communication is being made on behalf of Bangladesh with India regarding bringing Sheikh Hasina back. He said the government's position on the matter was also conveyed during his recent meeting with the Indian High Commissioner. Additionally, he said the matter is also coming up for discussion in meetings between other responsible government officials and Indian representatives.

In response to journalists' questions on whether the United States needs to play any role in the process of bringing Sheikh Hasina back, Zahed Ur Rahman said the government is considering the matter mainly as a bilateral issue between Bangladesh and India. In this regard, there is no need for the involvement of any third country.

Earlier, on September 15, Zahed Ur Rahman had also said that returning Sheikh Hasina and other convicted or fugitive accused staying in India is important to Bangladesh in easing relations between the two countries.

India's position on Sheikh Hasina's extradition is that if a formal extradition request comes from Bangladesh, it will be considered as a legal matter. India's Ministry of External Affairs had earlier conveyed this position.