Dhaka: The government is continuing necessary diplomatic and legal efforts to bring ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh, a parliamentary standing committee meeting was told today. The government's position on bringing Hasina back to the country was presented at the second meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the meeting was held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with committee Chairman Jaharat Adib Chowdhury in the chair, as stated by a parliament secretariat press release. The government's position is consistent with its recent statements that it is pursuing legal and diplomatic measures for Hasina's return. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam had previously indicated that necessary steps under existing laws were being taken to bring back convicted Awami League leaders staying abroad.
The government has also formally sought Hasina's extradition from India through diplomatic channels under the existing extradition mechanism. At today's parliamentary committee meeting, members also discussed Bangladesh's foreign policy, emphasizing the need for it to remain balanced while keeping the country's interests at the forefront of decision-making.
The meeting noted that Bangladesh would maintain partnerships with all countries while pursuing its national interests, in line with the government's "Bangladesh First" policy. A report on illegal migration and human trafficking was also presented at the meeting. The committee observed that serious procedural weaknesses in sending workers abroad in the past, including inadequate verification, had created longstanding problems that the country is now having to address.
It stressed proper authentication of migrant workers' information and documents and recommended developing a transparent and effective mechanism to send workers abroad through properly vetted recruiting agencies. The meeting was informed that a Migration Wing has been established at the foreign ministry for the first time to promote safe migration and protect the interests of Bangladeshi migrant workers.
The committee also recommended grassroots awareness campaigns to protect prospective migrants from fraud by brokers and unauthorized intermediaries and to inform people about legal migration procedures. Progress towards resolving the Rohingya crisis was also reviewed, while the committee expressed its intention to visit the Rohingya camps in October.
Committee members State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Mohammad Amanullah Aman, S K Azizul Bari, A B M Mosharraf Hossain, and Sanjida Islam attended the meeting. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir joined the meeting at the committee's special invitation. Senior officials of the foreign ministry and the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat were also present.