After the student-led uprising, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India. Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain stated that if the court issues an order, efforts will be made to bring her back from India.
He made this statement in response to a question during a conversation with journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday afternoon, September 1.
Mentioning that there is an extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India, the Foreign Affairs Advisor said, “It may be possible to bring her back if requested, but a legal process must be followed for this. I do not know how that process will unfold. We should not speculate here. However, if our legal system directs us to bring Sheikh Hasina back, we will certainly try to do so.”
When asked about Sheikh Hasina’s current status in India following the cancellation of her diplomatic (red) passport, he replied, “Ask the Indians about that. The red passport was automatically canceled. So, to know her current status in India, one needs to ask the Indian authorities.”
In response to whether the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on rail connectivity between Bangladesh and India, signed in April, would be reassessed, he said, “An MoU is not a formal agreement, so we can review whether our interests are adequately protected. We will make any agreements necessary to protect our essential interests.”
When asked about various Indian projects in Bangladesh, Touhid Hossain said, “Some instability can be expected after any revolutionary activity. There were some law and order issues in our country, which we have brought under control. Everything is gradually returning to normal. Once the situation stabilizes, they will feel secure, and the projects will resume.”
When questioned if Indians working in Bangladesh are feeling threatened, he replied, “There might be some fear, but it cannot be described as panic. Hopefully, they will soon be able to overcome this fear.”
When asked if any agreements are being made with Myanmar, the Foreign Affairs Advisor said, “There are no internal agreements within Myanmar as of now, so we should not have any expectations from our side at this moment.”
