BNP Government Does Not Want Hasina Back in Bangladesh, Claims Former Indian High Commissioner

Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Veena Sikri has questioned the BNP-led government’s willingness to bring former prime minister Sheikh Hasina back to the country, alleging that Dhaka is prolonging the process by repeatedly invoking the bilateral extradition treaty.

In an interview with India’s state-run news agency ANI, Sikri said the Bangladesh government’s position suggested that it did not want Hasina to return voluntarily.

She claimed that Hasina herself had expressed a willingness to return to Bangladesh and face legal proceedings in the country’s courts.

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Commenting on a recent request submitted to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi for Hasina’s passport and national identity card (NID), Sikri said issuing her a travel document would allow her to return and face the judicial process.

She argued that since Hasina’s passport had been cancelled, applying for a travel document was a reasonable step.

Sikri also questioned Dhaka’s repeated emphasis on the extradition treaty, saying it was surprising that the government was focusing on extradition when Hasina had reportedly expressed her willingness to return.

Referring to statements by Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir, she said the government’s repeated references to extradition indicated that it was not genuinely interested in facilitating Hasina’s return.

According to Sikri, providing a travel document could expedite Hasina’s return, whereas the extradition process might take two to three years. She alleged that insisting on extradition was effectively delaying the process.

On November 9, London-based law firm Matrix Chambers submitted a request to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Hasina’s behalf, seeking a passport and NID.

However, the request was rejected by the Bangladesh government.

Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir subsequently said that Hasina would not be issued a passport, while reiterating the government’s position that her return should be pursued under the extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India.