'Sheikh Hasina will be arrested as soon as she sets foot on the country's soil'

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Asaduzzaman has stated that Sheikh Hasina will be arrested the moment she enters the country's territory. He made this remark on Thursday while attending an event for signing a memorandum of understanding on legal aid provision.

Referring to the Home Ministry's efforts to get Sheikh Hasina extradited, the Law Minister said, "Even if a person is a convict facing the death penalty, if that person is a Bangladeshi citizen and wishes to surrender in Bangladesh out of respect for the country's laws, then perhaps before surrender, he/she will be arrested. But he/she does have that right."

"If she comes, let her come; the law will take its own course. We will not do anything in violation of the law. Whatever authority the law has given us, we will exercise that authority," the minister added.

When asked how Sheikh Hasina could come without a passport, he further said, "How she comes is her problem. It is not my problem. That is... when she enters my jurisdiction, once she is within that jurisdiction, I will apply the law with the authority it gives me. That's as simple as it is."

On the issue of the parliamentary session regarding the presidential election, the minister said, "The constitution states that an election must be held within 90 days from the day the president resigns. The question arose as to whether we would call a special session. Since 90 days is available and our next session falls within 60 days—these two timeframes match—I do not currently see the need for a special session. If the government deems it necessary, it can certainly call one."

He also informed, "The government will review and examine the Human Rights Watch report regarding the trial proceedings of the International Crimes Tribunal."

"The government wants to bring changes for the welfare of the people," the minister added.