Govt unaware of Hasina’s whereabouts: Touhid Hossain

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday said the government is not sure about former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s whereabouts though they checked in New Delhi and the United Arab Emirates.

“We could not be sure about her position. We inquired in Delhi and the United Arab Emirates. Nobody could confirm us,” he told reporters, adding that like the media they have also seen claims of her travel to the UAE.

Referring to the media, he said she is possibly in Ajman but they have not been successful in their attempts to reconfirm it.

“As far as former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is concerned, I told you that we don‍‍`t have an update on her plans. It is for her to take things forward,” official spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi in August second week.

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has clearly stated in his suo motu statement in Parliament that the approval for former Prime Minister Hasina to come to India was given at a short notice.

Responding to a question, adviser Hossain said Bangladesh Mission can only issue a travel pass to come to Bangladesh, not for going to other countries. “It’s a one-way trip to Bangladesh.”

During his UNGA visit, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should be extradited and brought to justice if she committed crimes.

"Why shouldn‍‍`t be? If she committed crimes, she should be extradited and brought to justice… she should be facing justice, too," he said while responding to a question at "The New York Times Climate Forward Event."

Referring to Hasina, Law Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul recently said Bangladesh will definitely seek extradition of any convicted person under the extradition treaty with India once trials begin.

“We have an extradition treaty with India. As per the extradition treaty, if any convicted person stays in India, we can seek his or her extradition. We will soon let you know through the Law Ministry,” he told reporters while responding to a question at a media briefing in Dhaka.

Sheikh Hasina, who left the country on August 5, is facing hundreds of cases.