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Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, currently residing in Delhi, India, has announced her plan to return to Bangladesh in December with senior leaders of the Awami League and voluntarily surrender to court. In an almost hour-long interview with Reuters, she stated that she might be arrested or even killed upon her return, but she would still come back.
The 78-year-old Sheikh Hasina said, “They might arrest me, or even kill me. Still, I must return.”
She alleged that widespread repression is ongoing against Awami League activists and leaders, with most facing legal cases. Many have been forced into hiding. For this reason, she has told her party members that they will all return to the country together and surrender to the court.
However, she did not specify an exact date for her return or the particular court where she plans to surrender.
Sheikh Hasina stated that she trusts the judicial system and believes that once legal proceedings begin, the public will themselves understand whether the court’s actions are impartial or a charade.
According to the Reuters report, Sheikh Hasina sought refuge in India after being overthrown in the 2024 student-people’s movement. Subsequently, a Bangladeshi court sentenced her to death in absentia. She has been accused of leading a deadly crackdown to suppress the movement, an accusation she consistently denies.