English
English
English
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to return to her country despite the risks (Img: X)
Washington DC: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to return to her country despite the risk of arrest, torture or death, saying she cannot stay away while her supporters and ordinary Bangladeshis continue to suffer.
Speaking virtually at a press conference hosted in Washington, Hasina said the threat to her life would not deter her from going back. She fled Bangladesh in August 2024 after the collapse of her government.
Addressing a press conference in Washington virtually, Hasina said, "Now I have decided...Yes, I know. If I go back, the moment I will land they can kill me, or they can arrest me and torture me."
Living in India since her ouster, Hasina expressed gratitude to the Indian government and its people for offering her refuge during the political crisis. She compared the support she received to the assistance extended to her family after the assassination of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and other relatives in 1975.
Recalling her political journey, Hasina cited her return to Bangladesh in 1981 and her decision to go back during the political emergency in 2007, despite the challenges she faced on both occasions.
However, she did not specify when she intends to return. Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, later clarified that no date had been decided and that an announcement would be made closer to the time.
Hasina urged the United States to support democratic institutions and inclusive elections rather than back individual leaders or political parties. She called for independent courts, freedom of expression, minority protection and respect for due process.
She also accused Bangladesh’s current political leadership of using legal proceedings against her and Awami League members to curb political opposition. Hasina maintained that allegations against political figures should be examined through transparent and impartial judicial processes.
Also Read: India Rejects OIC’s Kashmir Resolution, Says Pakistan Is Misusing the Organisation
Acknowledging questions surrounding her administration and the 2024 protests, she said Bangladesh needed reconciliation rather than political revenge.
Hasina advocated constructive relations with India, the United States, China and Japan, cautioning against Bangladesh becoming an arena for major-power rivalry.
She also backed stronger economic cooperation with Washington in investment, education, technology and security, while insisting that Bangladesh’s future government must be chosen through a free and inclusive political process.
