Foreign Adviser: Will seek Hasina's return if court orders it

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has said efforts will be made to bring back former prime minister Sheikh Hasina if a court order is issued in this regard.

Talking to reporters at the foreign ministry on Sunday, he said there is an extradition agreement in place with India, suggesting that it is feasible to secure her return, but emphasized that this involves a legal process.

"If our legal system deems it necessary for her return, we will certainly make every effort to achieve that."

However, he noted that the decision on whether India will agree to this request is entirely up to them.

When asked about Hasina's current status in India following the cancellation of her red passport, he said: "You should inquire with the Indian authorities about that."

About bilateral agreements with India, the adviser said any agreements made with India will prioritize Bangladesh's interests.

He responded to a query about whether the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on rail connectivity signed between Bangladesh and India last April would be reviewed.

He said: "An MoU is not a formal agreement; therefore, we can review whether our interests are adequately protected and, if necessary, negotiate a formal agreement that ensures our interests are safeguarded."

Commenting on the current state of India-Bangladesh relations, Touhid acknowledged India's positive stance but also noted the slow progress of projects funded by India's Line of Credit.

He attributed the delays to potential disruptions following any revolutionary situations and said the security situation in Bangladesh has improved.

"We have managed to bring the situation under control. As conditions stabilize, we expect that the experts working on these projects will feel secure and return to complete the ongoing projects," he said.