Follow due process of law

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The United States and the United Kingdom have urged the caretaker government to ensure due process of law and international standards in dealing with former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was arrested early yesterday.

“We are aware that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has been arrested,” said a spokesperson for the US Embassy in Dhaka.

“All individuals should be treated fairly and receive the full range of their legal and constitutional rights. It is also incumbent upon the government to prove its case in a court of law,” he said adding, “We are following all cases to see if they meet international standards of due process.”

In an instant reaction, the British High Commission in Dhaka said, “We are aware that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has been arrested. We call upon the caretaker government to ensure that due process is followed and the rule of law upheld.”

About Hasina’s arrest, a spokesman of the German Embassy in Dhaka said, “No comment because this is an internal, legal and domestic matter of Bangladesh.”

Our correspondent from New Delhi reports: Against the backdrop of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s arrest on extortion charges, India yesterday underlined that “basic individual rights” should be fully respected in such high profile cases and there should be “no violation” of due legal processes.

India also emphasised the need for early restoration of democracy in Bangladesh and hoped people of that country would be able to participate in a “process leading to free, fair, credible and democratic” elections.

“We are closely monitoring internal developments in Bangladesh including arrest of high profile politicians,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters here hours after Hasina was arrested in Dhaka and sent to jail.

“In all such cases, it must be ensured that there is no violation of due process as established by law and that individual and basic rights are fully respected,” he added.

“As a close and friendly neighbour, India would like to see a peaceful, stable and liberal Bangladesh,” Sarna said.

Favouring early restoration of democracy in Bangladesh, the spokesman said India notes the roadmap announced by Bangladesh Election Commission with regard to the polls to be held between October and December 2008.

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