Dhaka: Bangladesh’s deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s request for a passport was a “political stunt” and she has no genuine intention of returning to the country to face justice, the International Crimes Tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam said on Monday. Islam’s remarks came after Hasina on Monday requested a new passport and national identity card to facilitate her planned return to the country in December.
Hasina, 79, has been living in India since fleeing Bangladesh in August 2024 following a student-led uprising that toppled her government. Bangladesh has been seeking her extradition from India.
The Chief Prosecutor said that the fugitive former prime minister has initiated no formal legal or administrative steps to return to Bangladesh or surrender before the court, according to the state-run BSS news agency.
“This is nothing but a political stunt of hers,” Islam said, adding that such public declarations aim to confuse the public and divert attention from her status as a convicted fugitive.
He said that the special tribunal, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, has sentenced Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death in absentia for crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 uprising.
The Chief Prosecutor reiterated that if Hasina harboured any legitimate intent to abide by the law, she would pursue established legal and diplomatic channels rather than relying on political rhetoric.
“She is not taking the legal steps she should take to return to Bangladesh,” Islam was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper.
Hasina has recently said she intends to return to Bangladesh in December, despite facing serious legal challenges, including a death sentence handed down in absentia by a special tribunal over the deadly crackdown on protesters in 2024.
She has denied wrongdoing and questioned the legitimacy of the proceedings.
State minister for foreign affairs Humayun Kobir has rejected any possibility of issuing Hasina any travel document or passport, describing her as a “fugitive terrorist” and a “dictator”.
Bangladesh has also sought her extradition from India, where she took refuge after leaving office.
India has acknowledged receiving Bangladesh’s extradition requests for Hasina but has not announced any decision on handing her over. The Ministry of External Affairs has said the requests are being examined as part of its established processes.
A number of Awami League leaders, who fled to India and other countries after the uprising, on social media podcasts said preparations were underway for her return.
Some legal experts said since there was no confusion about her Bangladeshi citizenship Hasina could to return home even without having a travel document and questioned the government stance.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
