Bangladesh’s interim government has said former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will receive full security and all legal protections if she returns to the country, despite facing trial over allegations linked to her previous administration.
Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman made the statement during a weekly press briefing at the Secretariat on August 11. His comments came after Hasina recently said she plans to return to Bangladesh in December.
According to Zahed, the government will ensure Hasina’s safety upon her return and allow her to face the judicial process in accordance with the law. He stressed that her constitutional and legal rights would remain protected throughout the proceedings.
The adviser also said that the final decision would rest with the courts and that everyone would have to respect whatever verdict is delivered.
Hasina has been living in India since leaving Bangladesh in August 2024 following the political upheaval that brought an end to her long tenure as prime minister. Her proposed return has since become a major political issue in Bangladesh, particularly as legal proceedings against her remain ongoing.
Zahed’s latest remarks appear aimed at making the government’s position clear: returning to Bangladesh would not mean being denied legal protection or personal security, but it would mean facing the judicial process.
He also addressed questions about former Bangladesh cricketer and lawmaker Shakib Al Hasan, saying that he too could return to Bangladesh and face the allegations against him while receiving full security and legal rights.
However, Zahed sharply criticised Shakib over his political association with Hasina, describing the former Bangladesh captain in highly negative terms. At the same time, he reiterated that constitutional and civil rights would apply to everyone, regardless of political identity or the seriousness of the allegations they face.
The adviser further said the government does not want Bangladesh to return to what he described as a “mafia” style of governance. He emphasised that the country should remain a democratic state and that no future government should be allowed to establish an authoritarian system.
The briefing also touched on speculation surrounding the recent visit of Parag Jain, head of India’s intelligence agency RAW, to Dhaka. Zahed urged the public and media not to draw unnecessary conclusions about the visit, describing it as part of routine engagement between the two neighbouring countries.
He compared the visit with the recent trip to India by Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Forces Intelligence chief, suggesting that intelligence-level communication between the two countries should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of a political development.
With Hasina indicating that she wants to return to Bangladesh in December, the government’s latest assurance could become an important part of the political debate surrounding her future. For now, Dhaka’s stated position is that she can return, will be protected, and will have to face the courts under the country’s legal framework.
