Nothing can be done if India refuses to send Sheikh Hasina back: Foreign adviser
He stated that diplomatic efforts may be taken to persuade New Delhi
Bangladesh has no scope to bring back convicted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina unless India agrees to her return, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said today (10 December).
Speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the adviser, however, stated that diplomatic efforts may be undertaken to persuade New Delhi.
Responding to recent remarks by the Indian external affairs minister regarding how long Sheikh Hasina will remain in India, the adviser said, "What can we do? Truly, nothing. India has to agree to send her back. If India does not agree, there is nothing we can do, except try to convince them."
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Regarding whether Sheikh Hasina, currently taking refuge in India, might relocate to another country, he said there has been no information through diplomatic channels indicating any such development.
Asked whether the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) might be dissolved, Touhid Hossain stated, "Institutions like DGFI exist in every country. It is not easy to disband them."
Speaking on ongoing visa complications, he noted that Bangladesh's visa challenges will not be resolved unless the production of fake documents is stopped.
He added that visa issuance for students remains entirely within the jurisdiction of the respective destination countries.
On the matter of opening new diplomatic missions, the adviser said the process is lengthy and, despite approvals, immediate launches are not possible due to financial constraints.
When asked about the possibility of forming a new regional bloc with Pakistan and China, excluding India, he declined to comment on the matter.
Hasina fled to India with her sister Sheikh Rehana on 5 August in the face of a mass uprising. She has been in India since then. She was recently sentenced to death in absentia by the International Crimes Tribunal in a crimes against humanity case.
Following her conviction, Bangladesh formally wrote to the government of India to facilitate the return of Sheikh Hasina. Since she fled to India, the demand has been growing to have her repatriated to the country and face trial for the crimes committed by her administration during the July-August uprising.
