Chief Adviser’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam on Tuesday said bringing Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh and putting her on trial in person is the government's top priority.
“We want to bring her back and put her on trial in person. The people of Bangladesh want to see her trial. Bringing her to justice is our top priority,” he said in response to a question on whether her trial would be held in absentia.
Speaking at a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, Shafiqul Alam said she has been accused of committing crimes against humanity in the recently published UN human rights report.
“A huge pressure is being created (on India to extradite Sheikh Hasina) following the UN report and other reports from some human rights groups,” he said.
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Referring to a recent survey conducted by India Today, the press secretary said 55 percent of Indians support Sheikh Hasina’s extradition to Bangladesh, a certain percentage want her sent to a third country and only 16-17 percent of Indians want she should be allowed to stay in India.
He said Sheikh Hasina had run a brutal dictatorship for 15-16 years, which is clearly outlined in the 127-page UN report. “I think the pressure (on India to extradite her) would increase after this UN report,” he added.
Shafiqul Alam said the government asked India to extradite her and the pressure will continue to exert pressure on the issue. “Our main goal is to bring her to Bangladesh and put her on trial,” he said.
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CA’s deputy press secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar was present at the briefing.