Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Thursday (Dec 5) said that the time has not yet come to take the steps regarding bringing back Sheikh Hasina.

The Director General of the Public Diplomacy wing, and spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Alam said during weekly briefing, when journalists asked in this regard.

When asked whether the procedure of bringing back Sheikh Hasina will be discussed during Bangladesh and India Foreign Secretary-level meeting in Dhaka on December 9, Rafiqul Alam said, "My predecessor (former spokesperson Toufiq Hasan) has already made a statement on this matter. We are not the sole actor here; we are just one part of the process. The time to take the necessary steps from our side has not yet arrived. When it does, we will act accordingly."

Speaking about the agenda of the upcoming meeting, Alam said that the discussions at the Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) typically cover all aspects of bilateral relations. 

When asked whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received any request from the court or the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding Sheikh Hasina’s repatriation, Alam said, "To my knowledge, no such instruction has come to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yet."

The Foreign Secretary-level meeting is expected to address critical issues concerning Bangladesh-India relations, with a focus on enhancing cooperation in key areas while addressing pending matters between the two countries.

BDST: 1952 HRS, DEC 05, 2024
MSK