The government is continuing diplomatic and legal efforts to bring ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh, a parliamentary standing committee meeting was informed on Thursday.
The government’s position on Hasina’s return was presented at the second meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Committee Chairman Jaharat Adib Chowdhury chaired the meeting, according to a press release from the parliament secretariat.
The government’s stance 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 said on 16 September that necessary steps under existing laws were being taken to bring back convicted Awami League leaders staying abroad.
The government has also formally requested Hasina’s extradition from India through diplomatic channels under the existing extradition mechanism.
The meeting also discussed Bangladesh’s foreign policy, noting that the country would maintain partnerships with all nations while keeping national interests at the centre of decision-making, in line with the government’s “Bangladesh First” policy.
A report on illegal migration and human trafficking was presented at the meeting, where the committee highlighted procedural weaknesses in sending workers abroad in the past, including inadequate verification, which had created long-standing challenges.
The committee stressed the need for proper authentication of migrant workers’ information and documents and recommended establishing a transparent mechanism to send workers abroad through properly vetted recruiting agencies.
Members were informed that a Migration Wing had 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 prevent prospective migrants from falling victim to fraud by brokers and unauthorised intermediaries and to inform them about legal migration procedures.
Progress on resolving the Rohingya crisis was also reviewed, with the committee expressing its intention to visit 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.
