The government will not prevent Sheikh Hasina from returning to Bangladesh if she wishes to do so, but she will have to face trial upon her return, Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman has said.

He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists at the weekly briefing on the progress of government activities at the conference room of the Department of Information at the Secretariat on Tuesday (October 27).

Responding to a question about the possibility of Sheikh Hasina returning to the country, the information adviser said the government would not obstruct her return. Instead, she would be brought before the court to face trial.

“If the person we want comes back on her own, that would be good. We would not have to bring her back by force. If she returns, she will face trial,” he said.

Regarding ongoing discussions about the possibility of Sheikh Hasina returning in December, Zahed Ur Rahman said there was no official information on the matter. He advised against speculation in the absence of a formal announcement.

He said Sheikh Hasina might mention December at one point and June later, potentially keeping the same discussion alive every six months. Without a specific announcement or tangible progress, he added, discussing the matter was meaningless.

Drawing a comparison between the fall of the Ershad government in 1990 and the events of August 5, 2024, the adviser said former president Hussain Muhammad Ershad did not flee the country after losing power. Instead, he remained in Bangladesh, faced trial and imprisonment, and later participated in elections.

He said Sheikh Hasina would be dealt with in accordance with legal procedures if she returned to Bangladesh. No unlawful action would be taken against her.

“She will face justice. We want to respond to her wrongdoing through justice,” the information adviser said.

Government’s Position Unchanged After Sheikh Hasina’s Washington Press Conference

Asked about Bangladesh’s position on Sheikh Hasina’s press conference in Washington, DC, and her opportunity to make political statements there, the adviser said the government’s position remained unchanged.

Sheikh Hasina joined a press conference virtually at the National Press Club in Washington on October 19.

Zahed Ur Rahman said the Bangladesh government had previously expressed objections to Sheikh Hasina making political statements while staying abroad. The issue had also been raised at various levels since then.

“The government has not changed its position and will not change it. We will not say that Bangladesh accepts these developments,” he said.

He added that Bangladesh had made its position clear during discussions surrounding the prime minister’s visit to India.

The information adviser also explained his political position on referring to Sheikh Hasina as a “former prime minister.” He said she had remained in power for a long time without a genuine public mandate and, for that reason, he did not wish to refer to her as prime minister in political terms.