Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday announced that she, alongside other exiled leaders of the Awami League, intends to return to Bangladesh voluntarily around December, despite facing the stark prospect of arrest or death upon her arrival.
The 78-year-old leader, who moved to India following a student-led uprising that unseated her administration in August 2024, stated that she plans to surrender before the judicial courts upon her return.
Hasina says there is no communication with Dhaka
She further clarified that there has been no communication with the current authorities in Dhaka concerning the scheduled homecoming. "They may arrest me on my return, they may even kill me," Sheikh Hasina said. "Still, I have to go."
Expressing deep concern over the ongoing situation of her political supporters back home, the former Prime Minister emphasised her resolve to face the consequences on her home soil.
My party leaders are being subjected to repression: Hasina
"My party leaders and workers are being subjected to tremendous repression. If death comes, I want it to come on my own soil, where my parents are buried and where their blood was shed," she added.
The high-stakes announcement follows a ruling by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal, which sentenced her to death after convicting her of crimes against humanity.
International Crimes Tribunal awards death sentence to Hasina
The charges were tied to the state crackdown on the 2024 student-led demonstrations that ultimately led to the fall of the Awami League government, with the tribunal holding her accountable for ordering or failing to stop the fatalities of demonstrators during the political unrest.
In the same verdict, the tribunal handed a death sentence to former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and a five-year prison sentence to former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. The judicial body additionally directed the state to confiscate the properties of both Sheikh Hasina and Kamal.
Bangladesh says doing everything to bring Hasina back
Hasina's remarks come a day after Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said that Dhaka is taking all necessary steps to bring the exiled Prime Minister back to the country. Briefing the reporters, she said the repatriation process began during the Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime and is now being pursued by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government.
"I do not see any deficiency in our diplomatic efforts. The process is continuing," she said on Thursday.
Also Read:
Bangladesh NCP rally rocked by blast near Dhaka, 3 injured during anti-Sheikh Hasina event
