“I Will Return This Year”: Sheikh Hasina Sets Timeline for Return to Bangladesh

Nearly two years after being ousted from power and taking refuge in India, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared that she will return to Bangladesh “this year.”

In an interview with NDTV, Hasina alleged that the verdict against her was intended to make the Awami League “leaderless.” She insisted that such efforts would ultimately fail.

“The verdict against me is not justice. It is part of an illegal, unconstitutional, and politically motivated process. The judiciary has been turned into an instrument of political revenge to make the Awami League leaderless. Such attempts have been made before. They failed then, and they will fail again,” she said.

Hasina also said she does not fear death, recalling the assassination of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the loss of most of her family in 1975. She also referred to the August 21, 2004 grenade attack, in which she survived an assassination attempt.

“I do not fear death. In 1975, I lost my parents, my brothers, and almost my entire family. On August 21, there was an attempt to kill me with grenades. Many conspiracies have been hatched against me. But overcoming every conspiracy, I stood beside the people of Bangladesh. I was elected Prime Minister five times by the people's vote and worked for the country's unprecedented development. My entire life has been dedicated to the people of Bangladesh, the Awami League, the democratic struggle, and the country's development. Therefore, I want to say clearly: overcoming every obstacle and every conspiracy, I will return to my country this year,” she said.

Why Was Sheikh Hasina Convicted?

Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal found Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity, ruling that she was responsible for “ordering, inciting, and failing to prevent” the violent crackdown on student-led protests in July 2024.

According to United Nations estimates, up to 1,400 people were killed during the protests. The tribunal convicted Hasina on five counts, including the alleged deployment of drones, helicopters, and lethal weapons against civilian crowds, as well as responsibility for the mass killing of demonstrators in the Dhaka region.

Hasina has rejected the verdict, describing it as “biased, rigged, and politically motivated.” Through statements issued by the Awami League, she argued that the tribunal was influenced by Bangladesh's unelected interim government.

India has maintained a neutral stance on the issue. The country's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said New Delhi remains committed to Bangladesh's stability and democratic interests while continuing to engage with all stakeholders in the country.

source: Hindustan times