TDS Desk:

Home Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain on Monday said ousted premier Sheikh Hasina should return to her home country, but also cited the choice military dictator Hussain Muhammad Ershad was given: staying in country or going to jail.

“You [Hasina] went voluntarily. You should come back to your country again. But don’t create any anarchy, otherwise, people will be more angry,” the retired brigadier general told reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital.

However, he added a cautionary note for Hasina to consider while deciding on her return trip.

“Right after his fall, Jatiyo Party chief Hussain Muhammad Ershad was told that if he wanted to go abroad, he could go. Otherwise, could go to jail. And he ultimately went to jail.”

When asked about the complete ban on Jamaat-e-Islami imposed by Awami League government during its final days, Sakhawat said, “no political party should be banned,” adding the interim government only inherited the ban order from the previous administration.

If his ministry decides to reconsider the ban on Jamaat, necessary instructions would be given to the law ministry, Sakhawat added.

Bans are appropriate for militant organisations, he said.