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Dhaka: Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman has said that if former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death, returns to Bangladesh, legal action will be taken against her in accordance with the law. He indicated that she could be arrested even before she has the opportunity to formally surrender.
The minister made the remarks on Thursday while responding to reporters’ questions after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the government and BRAC and BLAST to strengthen legal aid services at the Secretariat.
Asked about reports that Sheikh Hasina plans to return to Bangladesh in December, the minister said, “Even if a person sentenced to death is a Bangladeshi citizen and wishes to surrender out of respect for the country’s laws, he or she may be arrested before the surrender can take place.”
He added, “If she returns, she returns. The law will take its own course. Nothing will be done outside the framework of the law. The government will exercise only the powers granted to it under the law.”
Responding to a question about whether Hasina could return without a passport, the minister said, “How she enters the country is her own matter. However, once she comes under the jurisdiction of the Bangladeshi government, the authorities will exercise the powers provided by law.”
On another issue, the minister said the government has not yet discussed holding a special session of parliament or initiating the process to elect a new president.
Referring to Article 123(2) of the Constitution, he noted that a new president must be elected within 90 days of the office becoming vacant through resignation. He added that this requirement aligns with the constitutional provision allowing up to 60 days between parliamentary sessions.
“Considering these constitutional timelines, there is no immediate need to convene a special parliamentary session. However, the government may decide to do so if it considers it necessary,” he said.