‘Is Sheikh Hasina alive?’ Bangladesh minister raises AI doubts over return bid

Bangladesh state minister for expatriates' welfare Nurul Haque Nur has expressed doubts about whether the country’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is alive.  His response came in view of the recent development that saw Hasina’s request for a new passport to facilitate her return to her home country.

Nur also expressed doubts about whether the statements circulated in the name of Sheikh Hasina were made by Artificial Intelligence or were real.

He also hit out at the Awami League for making a “ridiculous and misleading” comments. "Foreign evil forces are trying to create chaos in the country by using fascist power. If we, the government, the party and the opposition, work together, become active on the streets, and raise our voices, then their bragging will stop."

Meanwhile, the country’s Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam has said that the Bangladesh government has no legal right to issue a passport to Hasina, who is on death row for crimes against humanity and is a fugitive. The interim government had revoked her passport and national identity document months after she fled the country during the uprising.

However, her lawyers wrote to the Bangladesh embassy in New Delhi on Monday requesting new passport and documents from the country. Their emailed letter  asked for the papers to be issued "expeditiously", citing her Bangladeshi nationality, as well as adherence to obligations under "international human rights
instruments".

However, the Bangladesh government said it "doesn't provide passports to a terrorist" and urged New Delhi to hand her over, citing an extradition treaty with India.

Now, the Chief Prosecutor's Office has advised on what Hasina should do if she wants to return to the country. "If she really wants to come back, they (the Chief Prosecutor's Office) want to give clear advice: Sheikh Hasina should make a written request to the Indian government. She should tell the Indian government in writing that she should be returned to Bangladesh under the extradition treaty. This would be the right approach for Sheikh Hasina."

The prosecutor said that the law stipulated that convicted defendants will not get a passport. “If the defendant is convicted within five years of the time he asks for a passport, and the sentence is at least two years, then the authorities will not give him a passport. It is also said that the passport of a convicted person can be confiscated due to moral turpitude,” he added.