Hasina’s whereabouts not confirmed: Foreign Adviser

The government has been unable to confirm the whereabouts of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina who fled to India in face of recent student-led mass uprising, though rumors circulating on social media that she has departed New Delhi for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“We have not been able to verify her current location. We inquired with Delhi, (United Arab) Emirates too, (but) no one has been able to provide official confirmation,” he told reporters when asked about the current whereabouts of Sheikh Hasina at the Foreign Ministry here.

Touhid added that there had been unverified reports on social media indicating Hasina might be in Ajman, UAE.

“As you have all seen (in social media), we have seen too that she is possibly in Ajman. But we have been unsuccessful in our attempts to reconfirm it,” he said.

In response to a question regarding whether the United States pressured India to send Sheikh Hasina to another country, Adviser Hossain replied, “That question would be best asked to the United States.”

Ousted Hasina fled to India on August 5, seeking shelter following a mass uprising in Bangladesh.

The interim government had previously indicated that her return could be pursued through the legal procedures if necessary.

When asked about the recent trend of Bangladesh Awami League members reportedly fleeing to India to go to other countries with travel passes, the foreign adviser clarified that travel passes are issued specifically for returning to Bangladesh when a passport gets expired.

“Travel passes are intended solely for repatriation to Bangladesh, not for travel to other countries,” he noted.

Responding to another question, he said, they could be brought back to Bangladesh if legal procedures requires their return.