Bangladesh welcomed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s stated plan to return from India, saying she must face legal proceedings over her conviction for crimes against humanity tied to the 2024 crackdown on student-led protests.
Zahed Ur Rahman, an adviser to prime minister Tarique Rahman, said the government wanted justice and that Hasina could bring leading lawyers to defend her before International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh). He said proceedings would remain transparent and could be observed and broadcast.
Hasina, 78, was sentenced to death in absentia in November and has rejected the charges and verdict as politically motivated. Rahman said procedural issues would not prevent her return and that India could coordinate with Dhaka. India said its position was unchanged and any extradition request would be handled as a legal matter.