New Delhi, September 30 (Daily Kiran) : Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh has once again expressed her intention to return to her homeland. Speaking virtually during a press conference organized by the UK-based think tank Global Center for Democratic Governance, she stated, “I am planning to go back to Bangladesh.”
When asked if she was still committed to her claim of returning in December, Hasina replied affirmatively, “Yes, I am determined. Everyone knows that my passport and other documents have been sealed. I am making plans and will reveal how and when I will go back at the right time.”
Hasina indicated that she is prepared to face any legal repercussions upon her return, emphasizing that her decision is tied to her country and its people. This is not the first time the exiled leader has voiced her desire to return; she made similar statements previously. On August 5, during an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) of South Asia, she also expressed her wish to return home via video link, alongside her son Sajib Wazed Joy and other leaders from the Awami League.
During that event, she stated, “I could be arrested or sent to jail. But fear cannot dictate my duty to the people. When my beloved countrymen are suffering, I cannot remain silent.” She reiterated that the exact date of her return would be announced “when the time comes,” while hinting at legal complexities that might affect her plans.
Hasina called for the lifting of the ban on her Awami League party. Her son noted that the current government has not reached out to them. In a July interview with Reuters, Hasina mentioned that she plans to return to Bangladesh with senior party colleagues in December to surrender to the courts. Legal cases are pending against her in Bangladesh, including one that resulted in a death sentence, which she has dismissed as “politically motivated.”
The 79-year-old former prime minister was dramatically ousted from power in 2024 amid allegations of a brutal crackdown on protestors.
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