Hasina extradition a Bangladesh-India matter, no third country needed: Zahed

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Advisor Zahed Ur Rahman says there is no need for a third country to become involved in Bangladesh’s efforts to bring ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina back from India.

He described the matter as a bilateral issue between Bangladesh and India, saying Dhaka was continuing discussions with New Delhi over Hasina’s return.

Zahed made the remarks in response to questions at the government’s weekly press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

He was asked about recent comments by a US state department spokesperson, who said Washington hoped Bangladesh and India would discuss the issue and reach a solution.

“The United States has not yet taken a formal position on this matter. We understand that this has become a major source of friction between India and Bangladesh,” he said.

“So, we hope that they will discuss the matter among themselves and reach a solution. And we have not yet specified what should happen to Hasina.”

Referring to the US official's remarks, Zahed said: “We want her, and she has to be handed over by India.”

He added that he understood Washington's position to be that the matter should be resolved between Bangladesh and India.

“What America was trying to convey is actually that this is a bilateral issue; there is really no need for any other country to be involved in it. We also believe so.”

Hasina has been sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity linked to the July Uprising.

Referring to the verdict, Zahed described Hasina as a “dangerous accused” and said the crimes for which she had been convicted were of a different magnitude from ordinary murder.

“She did not commit murder. What she did is called a ‘crime against humanity’. It is a crime of a different magnitude, a crime against humanity, which can be tried in an international court,” he said.

“So, such an accused, who has been sentenced and convicted, is in India. We certainly want her back. This is our bilateral matter, and we are continuing discussions on it and talking to them.”

Zahed said he had also raised Bangladesh’s concerns during a courtesy meeting with Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi.

“Whenever he meets people from India, he conveys Bangladesh’s concerns to them,” Zahed said. “I hope they will take appropriate steps in this regard.”