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Hasina vows Bangladesh return despite death sentence

ByJustpaste.in

Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has announced that she intends to return to Bangladesh from self-imposed exile in India in December, despite facing a death sentence following her conviction in a crimes against humanity case.

Speaking through an audio message at an event in New Delhi marking the second anniversary of the 2024 uprising, Hasina said she was determined to return to her country regardless of the risks. She stated that serving the people remained her responsibility and that fear would not prevent her from going back.

Hasina has been living in India since August 2024, when a student-led protest movement forced her from office after weeks of nationwide unrest. She was later convicted in absentia by a Bangladeshi court over allegations linked to the violent crackdown on demonstrators during the protests. She has consistently denied the charges.

According to a United Nations report, nearly 1,400 people were killed during the 2024 unrest. Bangladesh has repeatedly requested Hasina’s extradition from India, but New Delhi has not handed her over.

In her address, Hasina also demanded that the ban on her Awami League party be lifted and called for the release of political prisoners. She maintained that the party should be allowed to resume its political activities.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh officially inaugurated the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum in Dhaka to commemorate the 2024 protests. The museum has been established in Hasina’s former official residence and contains photographs, audio and video recordings, personal belongings of victims and historical records documenting the events of the uprising.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the museum alongside interim government leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, whose administration took office after Hasina’s removal from power. The museum also highlights allegations of political repression during Hasina’s years in office.

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