International Desk
11 July
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
Journalist And Research Analysist
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced that she is willing to return to Bangladesh by December, even if it means facing arrest or the death penalty. Speaking in an interview, the 78-year-old leader said she and several exiled members of her party, the Bangladesh Awami League, are prepared to return voluntarily and surrender before the courts.
Hasina has been living in India since August 2024 after her government was removed from power following student-led protests across Bangladesh. She said there have been no discussions with the current government in Dhaka regarding her possible return. Despite the uncertainty, she insisted that she is determined to go back to her homeland.
The former prime minister said she understands the risks involved and acknowledged that she could be arrested or even killed upon her return. However, she stressed that she wants to face whatever happens in Bangladesh rather than remain in exile. Hasina also expressed deep concern over the situation of her party leaders and supporters, claiming they have been subjected to severe pressure and persecution since her government fell.
She said that if death is her fate, she wishes to die in the country where her parents are buried and where they sacrificed their lives. Her remarks reflect her emotional attachment to Bangladesh and her determination to stand by her political supporters despite the personal dangers.
Hasina’s statement comes shortly after Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity. The tribunal also ordered the government to confiscate the properties of Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. In the same case, former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was sentenced to five years in prison.
Her planned return is expected to become a major political development in Bangladesh and could have a significant impact on the country’s political future.
