Govt completes all legal steps to bring back her, he says
Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death in a crimes against humanity case, has no legal scope to file an appeal.
He said there is no provision for allowing a delayed appeal before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in such cases, as the relevant special law does not provide such an opportunity.
The law minister made the remarks while speaking to journalists after attending a programme at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka on Saturday.
Responding to a question on whether Hasina would be allowed to pursue legal remedies if she returned to Bangladesh, Asaduzzaman said she would have to return through a legal process. If extradited from India, it would be carried out under the existing extradition treaty between the two countries.
“If she is extradited under the extradition treaty, that itself would be a legal process,” he added.
Explaining why Hasina has no scope to appeal, the minister said the relevant special law contains no provision for condonation of delay before the Appellate Division. He added that the law had been enacted by the Awami League government itself.
Referring to Article 47(3) of the Constitution, Asaduzzaman said the provision, introduced in 1973 during the tenure of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, states that a person accused or convicted of crimes against humanity cannot claim fundamental rights. He also noted that the law in question was enacted by the Awami League.
Asked whether the Indian government was uncomfortable with Hasina’s presence in the country, the law minister said only the Indian authorities could answer that question.
He added that the government has completed all legal procedures required to bring back Hasina, who was ousted from power following the student-led mass uprising in 2024 and is currently in India.
Regarding the security situation, Asaduzzaman said the government was reviewing the matter.