Sheikh Hasina announces Bangladesh return plan (Img: IANS)
Dhaka: Exiled former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced plans to return to Bangladesh in December despite facing a death sentence, saying she is prepared to surrender before a court and accept whatever follows.
Speaking to Reuters, Hasina said she and senior leaders of the banned Awami League intend to return voluntarily to Bangladesh and present themselves before the judiciary.
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The 78-year-old leader said she was aware of the risks involved in returning. "They may arrest me on my return, they may even kill me. Still, I have to go. If death comes, I want it to come on my own soil, where my parents are buried," she said.
Hasina added that her party workers continue to face repression following the fall of her government.
Hasina fled Bangladesh in 2024 after massive student-led protests ended her two-decade rule. In November, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia over allegations related to the deadly crackdown on the protests. She has denied all charges and has been living in India since leaving office.
Her proposed return comes as Bangladesh continues to seek her extradition from India. New Delhi has previously said it is examining Dhaka's request while engaging constructively with the interim government.
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Hasina said she has not discussed her return with any foreign government and believes the legal proceedings will expose what she described as the shortcomings of the case against her.
The former prime minister said she has been holding virtual meetings across Bangladesh to reorganise the Awami League despite the party being banned.
She maintained that the people not the courts should ultimately judge her government's legacy and insisted that democracy and political rights should be restored.
