Sheikh Hasina must return through legal means, government has done its part on extradition: law minister
Photo: Collected
Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, ousted in the July mass uprising, will come to Bangladesh through a legal process, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said. In his words, when she is handed back under the extradition treaty, it will be a legal process.
He said this in reply to journalists’ questions after the annual general meeting of the Registration Service Association at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre on Saturday.
The law minister said there is no legal scope to condone the delay (delay condonation) if the set time for filing an appeal with the Appellate Division in an International Crimes Tribunal case has passed; the special law itself does not provide for it, and they themselves made that law. Referring in this context to the 1973 amendment to the constitution, he said that under Article 47(3) of the constitution no person accused and convicted of crimes against humanity can claim fundamental rights. That amendment was brought by none other than Sheikh Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Asked about the legal process, with reference to a BBC report on Friday about Sheikh Hasina’s return home, the law minister said, ‘We have done everything that needs to be done in the legal process from our side. What they (India) will do is their matter.’
Asked whether the Indian government had discussed with Bangladesh sending Sheikh Hasina to a third country, he replied, ‘They can say that.’
Investigations district by district
The law minister said the enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in districts over the last 16-17 years, and the false ‘ghost’ cases filed using the state machinery, all served one common purpose: harassing and crippling political opponents. The International Crimes Tribunal’s prosecution and investigation teams will jointly launch investigations into these incidents in different districts, and the government will provide the necessary support.
He said a pledge was made to the nation through the July mass uprising to try all crimes against humanity, and the government is walking that path. The investigation team and the prosecution will work independently and the government will not interfere; whatever support they seek for their investigations, the government will provide.
The law minister also answered questions about the trial process against the Awami League as a party. He said the investigation agency and prosecution will work independently in this case too. Asaduzzaman added that the government is reviewing the matter of witness protection.
The tribunal’s verdict
International Crimes Tribunal-1 delivered its verdict against Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising on 17 November 2025. Fifty-seven days after the verdict, on 13 January this year, the 453-page full verdict was published on the website of the Chief Prosecutor’s Office.
The verdict sentenced Sheikh Hasina and her government’s home minister Asaduzzaman Khan to death and ordered the confiscation of their property by the state. Both convicts are absconding. Another accused in the case, former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, who turned approver, was sentenced to five years in prison.
Background
According to bdnews24.com, Bangladesh sent India a diplomatic note (note verbale) on 23 December 2024 seeking Sheikh Hasina’s return.
According to Prothom Alo, India was again written to seeking extradition after the tribunal’s verdict on 17 November 2025; the report also mentions letters being sent earlier on 20 and 27 December.
Sources
Original report: BSS
Background sources: bdnews24.com, 2024; Prothom Alo, 2025
