Welcoming Sheik Hasina’s plans to return to Bangladesh, Zahed Ur Rahman, an advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tariq Rehman said, “Let her bring the best lawyers in the world”. Adding that she must face justice as a death penalty convict.
“We welcome her announcement as we want to ensure justice,” Rahman said at a media briefing, adding that the “people of the country want her death penalty to be upheld for the crimes she committed, and in that case her capital punishment will be executed as the people want to see that, he said.”
He mentioned that the proceedings at the International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh) (ICT-BD) would remain transparent and could be monitored by observers and broadcast through video coverage. Noting that there have previous instances where the rulings of the ICT-BD, formed during the Awami League regime in 2010, were stayed or overturned, possiblities of verdict revision against the deposed PM is also possible, he noted.
The Hasina led government toppled in a violent student-led street protest on August 5, 2024. She was sentenced to death in absentia in November last year by a special tribunal in Dhaka for alleged “crimes against humanity” over her government’s brutal crackdown on student-led protests in 2024. She has however dismissed the death penalty, criminal convictions, and charges against her as “politically motivated.”
India on Tuesday reacted cautiously, saying there is no change in its approach on the issue.
“There is no change in our approach to the matter. Any extradition matter is a legal issue, and it will be dealt with accordingly,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
She has been currently staying in India after fleeing Dhaka.