Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has said Dhaka has not been able to confirm the whereabouts of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
"We have also inquired in Delhi about this matter. No one has been able to provide confirmation," Touhid said in response to a question on Tuesday at the foreign ministry.
There have been reports in some media outlets that Hasina left for Dubai from Delhi, where she had taken shelter after resigning on August 5 amid an uprising.
"We are not sure about her location. We have also checked with Delhi. No one has been able to confirm. As you have seen in the media, we have also observed reports that she may have gone to Ajman in the UAE. However, we have not been able to confirm it," the adviser said.
Regarding queries about Awami League leaders and workers fleeing to other countries with travel passes from India, he said: "Travel passes are issued for returning to Bangladesh when passports expire, and not for travelling to other countries."
When asked if Sheikh Hasina has been sent to another country under pressure from the United States, the adviser said: "You should ask the US about that."
Some ministers and Awami League leaders have been spotted in India.
When asked whether any steps have been taken to bring them back since they are accused in legal cases, he replied: “You have seen in the media that they are there; I have seen that as well. I do not know anything beyond that. If a court says they need to appear [before it] due to ongoing or past cases, we will certainly try to bring them back.”
Recently, the government lodged a protest against a statement by Indian Home Minister Amit Shah who had spoken about illegal migration from Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made similar comments recently at a rally in Jharkhand.
When questioned about why the foreign ministry remains silent on this matter, the adviser said: “I believe the statement we made in response to such comments is sufficient for now. Let us see how the situation develops. They have elections coming up, and they are speaking about these issues in that context. We will try to minimize or eliminate such statements.”
When asked if there is a list of Bangladeshi politicians who have left the country since August 5, he said he does not have such a list. “We have only seen what is reported in the media. However, if we believe such a list is necessary, we can certainly request it.”