The issue was raised at an emergency meeting of secretaries held at the Secretariat on Thursday (12 November). Chaired by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani, the meeting discussed the prevailing political situation, recent labour unrest and the administration’s responsibilities in the current circumstances.
The meeting was convened through a notice issued around midday, after the day’s official activities had already begun. Mohammad Nazimul Haider, a deputy secretary at the Cabinet Division, circulated the notice to the relevant officials.
According to a source present at the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary instructed ministries to send their proposals to the Cabinet Division without unnecessary delays. Officials were also asked to submit the relevant summaries alongside their proposals to facilitate the review and decision-making process.
Particular emphasis was placed on accelerating administrative activities. During the discussion, Nasimul Gani reportedly asked whether anyone within the administration was waiting for December instead of maintaining the expected pace of work. The question also raised concerns about whether uncertainty surrounding the country’s political future was affecting the performance of government officials.
The Cabinet Secretary urged ministries and divisions to ensure that routine administrative responsibilities continued without interruption. He also instructed them to present the progress of government development activities and various initiatives to the public.
A secretary who attended the meeting, speaking to The Business Standard on condition of anonymity, said the government would address the prevailing political situation through political means. However, all ministries, divisions and government agencies had been instructed to communicate the government’s development activities and ongoing initiatives to the public.
According to the official, the government was attempting to move the country forward despite various political and economic challenges. He said the achievements and activities of different ministries, departments and agencies would be highlighted to demonstrate the government’s efforts and the support it had received both domestically and internationally.
Recent labour unrest was also discussed at the meeting. However, details of any specific decisions or instructions concerning the situation could not be independently confirmed.
The meeting began at 2.30pm in the Cabinet Division’s conference room and continued until 4.30pm. Senior secretaries and secretaries from various ministries and divisions attended.
The discussion about December comes against the backdrop of renewed political debate over Sheikh Hasina’s stated intention to return to Bangladesh from India next month. Her comments have drawn considerable attention, particularly as questions remain over the legal and diplomatic arrangements surrounding any possible return.
Hasina’s December return plan fuels political debate
Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh for India in August 2024 amid the mass uprising that led to the collapse of her government. Her departure followed weeks of deadly unrest during the July uprising, which resulted in significant casualties and a major political transformation in the country.
In November 2025, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) sentenced her to death after convicting her of crimes against humanity, including offences connected to killings during the July uprising.
Earlier this year, Hasina told Reuters in an interview that she and senior Awami League leaders planned to return to Bangladesh in December and surrender before the courts. Her statement triggered renewed discussion across the country’s political landscape, with questions emerging over the circumstances of her possible return and the legal proceedings awaiting her.
The issue gained further attention on 9 November, when Hasina’s lawyers reportedly sent a letter to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi seeking a new Bangladeshi passport and national identity card (NID) to facilitate her return from India.
The request prompted a response from the government, which made clear that it did not intend to issue her a new passport or travel pass for the purpose of returning to Bangladesh.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir said the government would instead pursue her return through the existing extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India.
He argued that Hasina could not be treated as an ordinary traveller returning to the country through normal commercial travel arrangements. According to him, the matter required judicial and diplomatic procedures rather than the issuance of travel documents.
The state minister stressed that Bangladesh wanted her handover under the bilateral extradition agreement. He maintained that the treaty provided the appropriate framework for seeking the return of individuals facing criminal proceedings.
His remarks reflected the government’s position that Hasina’s return should be addressed through formal legal channels rather than through a routine passport application.
Government examining legal aspects of the application
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has also commented on the matter, saying that the authenticity and legal validity of Hasina’s application were being examined by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Law.
He said the authorities were checking whether the application had been submitted through the proper procedures and whether Hasina was legally entitled to make such a request.
The Home Minister also confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already written to the Indian government seeking her return under the bilateral extradition treaty.
The extradition issue therefore remains closely tied to diplomatic relations between Dhaka and New Delhi. Any decision would need to be considered within the framework of the existing agreement, alongside the relevant legal procedures and obligations of both countries.
The developments have placed Hasina’s possible return firmly at the centre of political discussion ahead of December. Her public statement, the application submitted by her lawyers and the government’s position on extradition have added further uncertainty to an already sensitive political situation.
Against this backdrop, the Cabinet Secretary’s questions about administrative performance have drawn attention to another concern: ensuring that political uncertainty does not disrupt the functioning of the state.
By directing ministries to speed up their work, submit proposals promptly and communicate government initiatives to the public, the Cabinet Division has sought to reinforce the importance of administrative continuity.
The broader message from Thursday’s meeting was that government officials must continue performing their duties regardless of political developments. With December approaching and the question of Hasina’s return unresolved, the administration is being urged to maintain momentum rather than allow uncertainty to affect the pace of governance.
