Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has stated that if Sheikh Hasina is guilty of any crimes, she should be brought back and held accountable in a court of law.
Dr Yunus made this statement in response to a question during an event in New York on Wednesday (25 September), where he is currently attending the United Nations General Assembly session.
Sheikh Hasina resigned from her position as Prime Minister on 5 August, following a student-led uprising, and subsequently fled to India.
On 8 August, an interim government, led by Nobel laureate Dr Yunus, was formed.
Speaking on the prospect of elections in Bangladesh, Dr Yunus mentioned that he has no specific timeline for when they will take place.
He added that several commissions have been formed, which are expected to present reform recommendations in the coming months. Once these reforms are in place, an election date will be set.
When asked whether Sheikh Hasina would be extradited from India, Dr Yunus replied, "Why not?" and reiterated that if she has committed any crimes, she should be returned to face trial.
Dr Yunus also clarified that he has no intention of running in any future elections, quipping, “Do I look like someone who would run for office?”
On Wednesday, Dr Yunus attended the "Climate Forward" summit organised by The New York Times, where he warned that as long as the world remains tied to the current economic system, the Paris Agreement on climate change will not be effective.
The Paris Agreement, which came into force in 2016, was designed to mitigate the effects of climate change.
He criticised the existing system as being excessively profit-driven, benefiting a small group while generating vast amounts of waste.
He remarked, "The economic system we have created is at the heart of the planet’s destruction."
Dr Yunus further argued that humanity has built a "self-destructive civilisation".
He emphasised that any changes to the Paris Agreement would be meaningless unless the fundamental structures of the global economy are overhauled. He insisted that developing nations like Bangladesh should not bear the burden of climate damage caused by wealthier countries.
"Why should we carry the destruction you have imposed on us?" he asked, adding, "You are the cause of the damage, and we are suffering the consequences."
