State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam has stated that alongside legal procedures, political will is equally crucial to bring back convicted and ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other accused individuals to the country as quickly as possible.

State Minister Shama Obaid made these remarks while speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday (October 4).

Drawn to the recent remarks made by the Indian High Commissioner, Shama Obaid said, "While legal procedures are certainly there, political will must also exist alongside them. We hope the Indian government will pay attention so that the extradition process underway to bring back the accused individuals can be completed more swiftly."

Emphasizing that both countries must possess political will, she noted that the Bangladesh government certainly has political will, and the Indian government needs to demonstrate the same level of political will.

The State Minister for Foreign Affairs also mentioned that extraditing the accused individuals within the framework of the extradition treaty is entirely possible, and legal procedures are being advanced to that end.

Earlier on Saturday, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi said, "To give you a direct answer, the Indian government has repeatedly stated through the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that there is a process, and that process involves legal matters, and it is a well-established process. Therefore, from that perspective, the process is ongoing."

Remarking that since the matter is sub judice, "no one can provide a time frame," he made these points during a discussion titled 'Power and Prudence: Managing Great-Power Competition Without Conflict' as part of the ongoing Bay of Bengal Conversation in Dhaka.

The High Commissioner also underscored the necessity of continuous dialogue, mutual respect, and trust between the two countries to resolve bilateral issues.

Noting that every problem between the two neighbors has a solution, he said, "There is no point in keeping things hidden, and there is no point in not talking about them."

In response to several questions, Dinesh Trivedi stated that all unresolved issues—including water, trade, culture, sports, communication, and transportation—need to be discussed between the two countries through appropriate forums.

Mentioning that the engagement process between the two nations may be slow, but it has not stopped, he said, "In a democracy, dialogue must take place in the proper forum. And that dialogue must be continuous."

The Indian diplomat added, "I can assure you, there is no pause in the process. The process is ongoing. Believe me, a solution has to be found, and a solution will be found."