Sheikh Hasina will be brought back to the country under an extradition treaty: Rizvi

BanglaPress Desk: BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has stated that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be brought back to Bangladesh under the extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India. According to him, there is no possibility for Sheikh Hasina to return to the country on her own initiative.

He made these remarks on Friday morning (November 13) while speaking at a discussion meeting on 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day,' organized by the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal at the National Press Club.

Rizvi remarked that the 17-year-long fascist regime was akin to the governance system that existed between 1972 and 1975. He noted that the students and the general public brought an end to that oppressive rule and forced Sheikh Hasina to flee the country, adding that the spirit of November 7 served as an inspiration in this process.

Regarding the return of Sheikh Hasina, Rizvi clarified that "voluntary return" (repatriation) and "extradition" are two distinct concepts. A voluntary return implies someone coming back to their home country from abroad, whereas extradition involves the transfer of an individual—who faces criminal allegations, legal cases, or a conviction—from one country to another through established legal procedures. Bangladesh has an extradition treaty with India; therefore, her return must be facilitated by following the appropriate legal channels. She must serve the sentence handed down to her.

Addressing the killings during the 2024 mass uprising, he remarked, "She fled the country after being drenched in so much blood—yet, listening to some, one might think she simply went to visit her parents' or husband's home, and that she ought to be welcomed back with roses."

He further called for the preservation of a democratic order to ensure that no such tyrannical fascist can ever emerge in the country again.