Sheikh Hasina's Determined Return to Bangladesh Amidst Political Turmoil
Sheikh Hasina's Commitment to Return
New Delhi, August 5 - Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, declared on Wednesday her unwavering intention to return to her homeland in December, despite the potential risks of arrest or even death. This statement was made during a digitally held press conference, her first since arriving in India. Hasina left Dhaka for India on August 5, 2024.
During the digital press conference, reporters could only hear her voice, as she was not visible. Hasina expressed, “I am aware that they could imprison me or take my life.”
“I will return home to be with my people,” she affirmed. The Awami League leader praised India for its consistent support, stating, “India has always stood as a close friend of Bangladesh.”
In her address, she highlighted the political climate in her country and the challenges faced by its citizens, emphasizing, “My return is not for power, but to steer Bangladesh back towards development, secularism, and prosperity.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh reacted strongly to Hasina's press conference, expressing displeasure that despite concerns raised by Dhaka regarding the potential impact on bilateral relations, the event was allowed to proceed. They stated that her discussions on Indian soil were an “insult to Bangladesh's sovereignty.”
The Ministry further remarked, “Bangladesh seeks to maintain a relationship with India that is constructive, mutually beneficial, and forward-looking, based on sovereign equality, mutual respect, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.”
While speaking to the media at the Foreign Correspondents Club, Hasina stated, “No matter what fate has in store for me, I will return to Bangladesh to be with my people. I cannot stay away when my fellow countrymen are suffering.”
She added, “I may be detained, imprisoned, or falsely accused, but fear cannot dictate my duty to the people.”
Hasina dismissed any possibility of behind-the-scenes negotiations with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government regarding her return. “I am not concerned about my future; I care about the future of Bangladesh,” she said.
“I want to return because the people deserve security, development, prosperity, and peace,” she continued. Although she was “forced to leave” her country, she asserted that she has “never been apart from her people.”
At 78, Hasina has been residing in India since leaving Dhaka. She confirmed, “I have made my decision, and I will go to Bangladesh.”
Last November, a special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for “crimes against humanity” related to the government’s actions during student-led protests in 2024. Since then, Dhaka has been demanding her extradition from New Delhi.
Hasina expressed deep concern over the current state of Bangladesh, stating, “Fear has permeated homes, workplaces, and educational institutions. This is not the Bangladesh we built.”
She called upon the international community to stand with the people of Bangladesh in their struggle for democracy and justice. Hasina alleged that the protests in July and August 2024 were not peaceful student movements, claiming that organized groups turned them into violent political weapons. Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, accused that political killings have been legitimized in Bangladesh since August 2024.
He stated that Bangladesh is now a failed state with a breakdown of law and order. Joy warned that New Delhi should be most concerned that Bangladesh has become another Pakistan on its eastern border. Several senior leaders of the Awami League also addressed the press conference.