All Accused Fugitives and Convicts, Including Hasina and Quader, Must Be Returned to Ease Ties with India: Information Adviser

Returning all accused fugitives and convicts currently in India, including Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader, is an important condition for easing relations between the two countries, said Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, the Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser.

He made the government’s position known on Tuesday while responding to questions from journalists at a press briefing on the progress of various government ministries’ activities and contemporary issues. The briefing was held at the conference room of the Press Information Department (PID) at the Secretariat.

The issue was also raised as an important matter during a courtesy meeting with the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh. Information Adviser Zahed said, “During our meeting with the High Commissioner, we clearly raised the issue of bringing back all fugitives in India, including Sheikh Hasina. We informed him that, in the interest of strengthening effective working engagement with Bangladesh, the Indian government should consider this issue seriously.”

Asked whether the government also wanted Obaidul Quader and other accused to be returned along with Sheikh Hasina, Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman said, “If we want Sheikh Hasina, why would we not want Obaidul Quader and the others?”

“Our appeal to the Indian government is that this is an extremely important condition for easing relations with Bangladesh,” he said.

“The brutality of Sheikh Hasina was not limited to July. Her brutality continued for years. Various people were involved in these incidents,” he added.

Reacting to statements made by the fugitives on Facebook and other platforms, he said they were living comfortable and luxurious lives abroad.

“They are making various remarks and offering advice on social media, which is deeply hurting the feelings of the people of Bangladesh. We hope the Indian government will understand the feelings and sensitivity of the people of Bangladesh and hand them over,” he said.

Mentioning that ensuring justice for all crimes committed during the Awami League rule is the present government’s top priority, the Information Adviser said, “The party that suffered most under the Awami mafia rule is now responsible for the state.”

“There will be no compromise on ensuring justice. Anyone accused may appear before the court in the interest of receiving justice, because the country’s judicial system is currently functioning completely independently,” he said.

Responding to a question about the local government elections, Dr. Zahed said the Constitution provides for an independent Election Commission (EC) for national and presidential elections, but decisions regarding local government elections are made through discussions with the government.

He said the government’s decision is highly important in local government elections. The Election Commission and the government will coordinate and take the final decision on local government elections.

“The next local government election will be fully participatory. There will be no party symbols,” he said.

Explaining the information about sending 10,000 workers to Malaysia, the adviser said the information provided by the ministry that 10,000 workers would be sent free of charge was correct.

He also called for a change in the mindset of officials and ordinary people to ensure citizen services instead of making it mandatory to address officials as “Sir” in offices.

Regarding the closure or regulation of battery-powered autorickshaws on the roads, Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman said many people’s livelihoods and transportation depended on these vehicles.

“The government does not want to shut them down all at once. However, a policy is being prepared quickly to bring them under specific safety and route regulations,” he said.

He said the government had no scope to intervene in the Tk 666 crore tax-related case involving Grameen Kalyan, as the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the court.

“Therefore, the case will run its course. There is also no question of the government having affection or hostility towards Dr. Muhammad Yunus or anyone else,” he said.

At the press conference, a journalist referred to the Tk 666 crore tax-related issue involving Grameen Kalyan, the High Court order and the two writ petitions filed over the matter. The journalist also asked whether the government had any special message regarding the people behind Grameen Kalyan.

In response, Zahed Ur Rahman said the matter was for the court to decide. “There was some misunderstanding about this issue. Now the details have come before many people—what the court’s verdict was regarding the tax waiver and why that verdict was not implemented at the time,” he said.

He said there had been an interim period at that time. “Now, in accordance with the court’s directive, the concerned parties have been asked to pay the taxes. They must pay the taxes as per the court’s verdict,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s adviser said the matter was under the jurisdiction of the court and that the High Court had delivered its verdict. “The concerned parties must pay the taxes in accordance with that verdict. They themselves filed the case because they did not want to pay the taxes. There is actually nothing the government can do here,” he said.

Saying that the subsequent proceedings of the case would also take place according to court procedures, he said the case would now proceed on its own course.

“The concerned parties may go to the Appellate Division if they wish. If their position does not stand there, they will have to pay the taxes in accordance with the court’s directive,” he said.

“There is no involvement of the government in this case involving Grameen Kalyan,” Zahed Ur Rahman said. “There is no involvement of the government whatsoever. There is also no question of the government having affection or hostility towards Dr. Yunus or anyone else.”

Referring to the independence of the judiciary, he said, “Since this is a matter for the judiciary, the government believes that the judiciary is carrying out the responsibilities it is supposed to perform independently. In many cases, it is being seen that the judiciary is performing its duties independently.”

PID Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmad and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Dr. Md. Alam Mostafa were present at the briefing.