Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said Bangladesh wants to bring back BNP's acting chairperson Tarique Rahman from the UK as he is convicted by a Bangladeshi court.
"We are in talks with the British government about it. And definitely we will take him back one day and he will have to face the court," she said.
The prime minister made the statement while answering questions at an event titled “Bangladesh's Development Story: Policies, Progresses and Prospects” at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in London on Tuesday.
She spoke at the programme as the keynote speaker arranged by ODI.
Sheikh Hasina said the UK is a liberal country and anybody can take shelter and refuge there. "Tarique is convicted for the crimes he committed," she said.
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The prime minister also criticized the UK for giving shelter to a convicted person like him.
While responding to a question regarding the repatriation of the Rohingyas from Bangladesh, she said Bangladesh and Myanmar have signed agreements in this regard.
"But unfortunately, they are not taking any initiative, which is the problem," she added.
Sheikh Hasina said, as Myanmar is a next door neighbour of Bangladesh, the government is showing a friendly gesture.
"Ministers of Bangladesh and Myanmar visited both the countries, and our foreign minister had talks with the neighbouring countries of Myanmar, like China, Laos, and Thailand to find a possible solution to the problem," she said.
She said Myanmar showed eagerness to take back Rohingya refugees but practically, they did not take any one back.
"That is why we need more international pressure on Myanmar so that they take back their Rohingya nationals immediately," Sheikh Hasina added.
Hasina said the Myanmar government must ensure the safety and livelihood of repatriated Rohingyas.
To provide the Rohingyas with better living conditions in Bangladesh, the government is arranging accommodation on an island where some 100,000 Rohingyas can take shelter, she said.
About the reported “repatriation” of a family by the Myanmar government, the prime minister said no family was taken from any camp in Bangladesh.
Hasina mentioned that the Myanmar government perhaps wants to show the world that they are taking back the Rohingyas. "This is a good sign. Why did they take back only one family? We have given the names of 8,000 families, but they did not take any of them back."
The prime minister, however, appreciated the move of Myanmar and said they should start the full repatriation process.