Bangladesh has called on India to return fugitives and convicted individuals sheltering there, saying their handover is an important condition for improving relations between the two neighbors.

Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said the issue was raised during a recent courtesy meeting with Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh. He said Dhaka wants India to seriously consider returning former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral engagement.

According to The Daily Star, Zahed said Bangladesh had clearly conveyed its position to the Indian envoy and stressed that the presence of fugitives in India was affecting public sentiment in Bangladesh.

He also criticised statements made by fugitive accused persons on social media, saying their activities from abroad were causing anger among people in Bangladesh. Zahed said the government would not compromise on justice and maintained that those accused could face proceedings before Bangladesh’s judiciary.

The remarks come as Bangladesh and India seek to manage a range of sensitive bilateral issues, with the presence of former Bangladeshi political leaders in India remaining a major point of contention.

At the same briefing, Zahed said the upcoming local government elections would be held without party symbols and would be participatory. He added that although the Election Commission is constitutionally independent in conducting national and presidential elections, local government polls are conducted in consultation with the government.

On other domestic issues, Zahed confirmed reports that 10,000 Bangladeshi workers would travel to Malaysia without recruitment costs. He also said the government was preparing regulations for battery-powered auto-rickshaws rather than imposing an outright ban, citing their importance to livelihoods and urban mobility.

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