Govt welcomes Hasina’s bid to return: Dr Zahed

 
Bangladesh government has been trying to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from the beginning and a formal request has been made to India in this regard, said Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman.

He said that if Sheikh Hasina wants to return to the country, the government will welcome her so that she can face the court and participate in the justice process.

Speaking at the weekly briefing on Tuesday on government activities at the Directorate of Information (PID) conference room at the Secretariat, he said a formal request has already been sent to India for her extradition.

He explained that the government's statement about ‘welcoming’ Sheikh Hasina does not mean a political welcome. Instead, it means bringing her back under the legal process to ensure justice. 

He said Sheikh Hasina would have the opportunity to defend herself in court and could even appoint foreign lawyers at the International Crimes Tribunal. The trial process would remain transparent through observers and video recording.

Dr. Zahed said the government wants justice, not revenge. He added that if the court reaches a different decision based on evidence, it will also be respected. He also said he does not believe Sheikh Hasina has a political future in Bangladesh and that the government is under no pressure regarding her possible return.

On the ban on broadcasting Sheikh Hasina's statements, the adviser said the restriction is not a government decision but an order of the International Crimes Tribunal. 

The adviser said the government is working to strengthen the judiciary by increasing its capacity and reducing limitations, including the concentration of High Court activities in Dhaka.

Speaking about constitutional reform, Dr. Zahed said a new constitution is not the only way to bring major changes to the state system. He said significant reforms can also be made through constitutional amendments.

He said the government will work according to the July Charter, although it has differences on some proposed constitutional amendments, including the formation of an upper house. If necessary, the provision for a referendum could also be restored. 

Referring to the recent waterlogging in Dhaka, the adviser said the capital had experienced waterlogging, not flooding. He blamed years of unplanned development, poor project implementation and waste of public money for the situation. He said the government would identify the root causes and take long-term measures to solve the problem.

Regarding the HSC examinations, Dr. Zahed said the Ministry of Education would make the official announcement. He said exams had already been postponed in areas badly affected by floods, while the situation remained manageable elsewhere. The government is monitoring weather forecasts and will take further decisions if conditions worsen.

The adviser also acknowledged public suffering over delays and errors in National Identity Card (NID) corrections. He said many applications have remained pending for a long time and promised quick action. He added that citizens should not have to pay correction fees if mistakes were made by government authorities.

Highlighting environmental initiatives, Dr. Zahed said a major waste-to-energy project is being implemented at Aminbazar with investment from China's CMEC Group. The project will process about 3,000 tonnes of waste daily to generate 42.5 megawatts of electricity. Power generation is expected to begin in August 2028 and continue for 25 years.