Bangladesh Law Minister Says Sheikh Hasina Faces Arrest Upon Return to Country
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Bangladesh’s Law Minister Asif Nazrul has stated that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will face the full weight of the law should she return to the country. Addressing reporters at the Secretariat on Thursday, Nazrul emphasized that while Hasina maintains the right to return as a citizen, authorities will act promptly upon her arrival.
“Even if she were a death-row convict, she has the right to return and surrender to the law,” Nazrul said. “However, she would likely be arrested before she even has the chance to surrender. The law will take its own course, and we will exercise our authority strictly within the legal framework.”
Responding to questions regarding Hasina’s current lack of a valid passport, the minister dismissed concerns about the logistics of her potential return. “How she manages to come is her problem, not mine. Once she enters our jurisdiction, we will apply the law as empowered,” he added.
During the press briefing, which followed the signing of two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the National Legal Aid Services Organization and partner NGOs BRAC and BLAST, the minister also addressed questions regarding the upcoming presidential election. Nazrul noted that there is currently no immediate plan to call a special session of parliament, as constitutional timelines allow sufficient time to hold the election within 90 days of the presidency becoming vacant. He indicated that the government would only convene a special session if it deemed it necessary.
The event primarily focused on the government’s commitment to reducing the significant backlog of cases in the national court system. Nazrul announced that the administration is working to strengthen Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to provide swifter justice to litigants. He cited recent data from 20 identified districts, which showed a more than 62 percent reduction in new cases between March and May 2026 compared to the previous year, highlighting the efficacy of these mediation efforts.
Under the new agreements, the government will partner with BLAST to pilot a paralegal program in Dhaka, Gazipur, and Chattogram to provide targeted legal support to industrial workers. Additionally, a collaboration with BRAC’s Social Empowerment and Legal Protection (SELP) program will focus on training and certifying professional mediators, with provisions to grant legal recognition to successful settlements.
Minister Nazrul urged the judiciary to further prioritize mediation for suitable pending cases, reaffirming that the government is prepared to implement necessary legal reforms to lower the current burden on the court system.
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