Staff Correspondent

The interim government on Sunday reiterated its commitment to bring back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now facing over 100 cases with a wide range of charges, to face the trial at home, stressing that nobody in the world wants to give space to any “killer”.

“It’s nation’s desire (to get her back). We are very hopeful,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters during a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy.

When asked about such a possibility during their tenure, he said political parties are their stakeholders and hoped that the next elected government, whoever it is, will look into it as it is a generational issue.

“We will try our best. She must face the trial. I think pressure will build on. Our pressure will relentlessly be there,” he said, adding that such pressure will be mobilised worldwide.

Alam said they did not hear anything from the Indian side yet on her extradition request but the government’s efforts are there to bring her back. “It remains our top priority. We will not step back from this.”
extradition request, though Bangladesh is awaiting a reply from India.

"You know, a week back, I had confirmed that we have received a communication from the Bangladesh authorities in respect of former PM Sheikh Hasina. Further than that, I have nothing to add at this point in time," said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs, on January 3.

On January 1, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain made it clear that maintaining good relationships with three big countries - India, China and the United States- is among the priorities in 2025.

He stressed that Dhaka’s ties with Delhi will advance beyond a single issue.

There are questions around on how the Bangladesh-India relations will navigate this year if Dhaka's request for returning former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remains unaddressed.
Adviser Hossain, however, addressed such a question saying this is one of the issues and the two countries have many bilateral issues.

"I think both will continue simultaneously. We have many issues of mutual interest. We will advance with all these issues side by side," said the adviser.