Bangladesh Does Not Know Sheikh Hasina’s Legal Status in India: Chief Prosecutor

Bangladesh does not know the current legal or immigration status of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India, International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said Monday.

Speaking to reporters at the International Crimes Tribunal on Monday morning, August 17, he said the government has taken the necessary steps to bring Hasina back to Bangladesh through legal procedures.

Aminul Islam said the issue of Hasina’s stay in India is unrelated to the legal proceedings involving Salahuddin Ahmed, who is currently serving as Bangladesh’s Home Minister.

According to the chief prosecutor, law enforcement personnel picked up Salahuddin Ahmed from his home on March 10, 2015. He was allegedly held incommunicado for 61 days before being left in Shillong, Meghalaya, India, on May 10.

Indian police later took him into custody and filed a case against him under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act. The court subsequently found that he had been abducted from Bangladesh and left in India, leading to his acquittal.

A subsequent appeal against the ruling was also dismissed, after which Salahuddin Ahmed was released and eventually returned to Bangladesh.

The chief prosecutor’s remarks indicate that Bangladesh is pursuing the legal process for Sheikh Hasina’s return but does not have confirmed information about the status under which she is currently staying in India.