Bomb attacks and terror are being used to try to bring back Sheikh Hasina, says Law Minister Asaduzzaman

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said attempts are being made to bring back death-sentenced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina through bomb attacks, terror and intimidation.

He said those who think they will try to bring Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh with flower petals through bomb attacks and terror have still not understood the people of Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh will in no way give the fallen fascist autocrat an opportunity to do politics or terror on this country's soil, he said.

He made the remarks on Friday (November 13) as chief guest at a special general meeting organized by the Dhaka-based Jhenaidah Journalists Forum at the National Press Club.

Meanwhile, a BBC Bangla report published on Thursday said officials in Delhi have indicated that India has essentially two main conditions for Sheikh Hasina's return to Bangladesh.

First, Sheikh Hasina arrived in India aboard a Bangladesh military aircraft, so bringing her back would also have to be done by the Bangladesh Army. That process could be by air or by land — Bangladesh could send a military plane to take her from Delhi, or the army could receive her at a point on the land border. India is also ready to make whatever 'logistical' preparations or arrangements are needed from Delhi's side.

The second condition is that Bangladesh must guarantee that Sheikh Hasina will get the opportunity to appeal against her death sentence and that her trial on charges over the July genocide will start afresh.

The meeting at the National Press Club was chaired by Jhenaidah Journalists Forum Dhaka President Mehedi Hasan Palash and conducted by General Secretary Shahnaz Begum Poli. Senior journalist Khairul Alam Bakul spoke. Forum Senior Vice-President Md Kabir Hosen, senior member and ATN News Executive Director Mosharraf Hosen, Joint General Secretary Md Ziaur Rahman, Finance Secretary Masum Billah and Office Secretary Rubel Parvez were present.

The law minister said many of those carrying out bomb attacks have already been arrested. The government has received information and data on who is involved in these terrorist activities and how, he said, adding that people are also seeing who has chosen the path of terror.

Addressing journalists, he said journalism has reached a place of people's trust. When people are harassed somewhere and get no remedy, they come to the media. Journalists must hold on to that place of trust, he said, while also speaking out against malpractice in the name of journalism and yellow journalism.

Asaduzzaman said journalists must take up their pens for truth and justice and against wrongdoing, drugs and corruption. At the same time, the government's good work must also be presented, and if there is anything negative in any government activity, that too must be published — even if the criticism goes against the government or against him personally, there is no problem, he said.

He said that in the past roughly nine months, the government in Bangladesh has not taken the path of extrajudicial killings or enforced disappearances, and efforts have been made to move away from the culture of police filing false cases as complainants. These matters have also been discussed with a representative of an international human rights organization, he said.

The minister said it is not possible to change everything overnight, but the government wants to move forward on the right path based on correct information. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working with that resolve to build Bangladesh, he said, and the government is in the field against all evil forces on that path.