Sheikh Hasina to AFP: ‘I Know the Consequences, Yet I Want to Return Home — The People of My Country Are Calling Me’

❐ BD Digest Desk

Bangladesh’s long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she is fully aware of the risks to her life. Despite the threat of arrest, imprisonment and even assassination, she wants to return to Bangladesh by December.

In an e-mail interview with AFP, Bangabandhu’s daughter and leader Sheikh Hasina said, “I could be killed. I could be arrested. I could be sent to prison. I am fully aware of my consequences. Still, I want to return home because my countrymen are calling me.”

In August 2024, anti-government protests and clashes led to a change of power in Bangladesh, with Sheikh Hasina fleeing the country in fear. Protesters surrounded the prime minister’s official residence with the intention of killing her. Sheikh Hasina was evacuated to safety by army helicopters. She was hosted in India.

A questionable UN report has claimed that up to 1,400 people may have been killed in the operation by law enforcement agencies to suppress anti-government conflict and violence. Although the gazette during the Yunus government mentioned this number as 843. Later, many of the dead were found alive in various places.

Last November, a Dhaka court convicted Sheikh Hasina of “crimes against humanity” and sentenced her to death. However, she described the verdict in an interview as “political revenge disguised as law.”

Sheikh Hasina said she is staying at an undisclosed location designated by the Indian government. She said there is no pressure on her from India to return home.

The current ruling government of Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite Sheikh Hasina to bring her back to the country. India has said that the matter is still under review.

At the same time, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has informed that Sheikh Hasina is staying in India as a state guest with the status of a Prime Minister.

Sheikh Hasina said that the decision to return to the country has nothing to do with the extradition issue. In her words, “I am in India with honor and dignity. The Indian authorities have not discussed extradition with me. I have taken the decision to return to the country myself.”

Regarding alleged human rights violations

For a long time, various human rights organizations have been raising allegations against Sheikh Hasina’s government, such as suppressing political opponents, influencing the judiciary, killing opponents, and organizing one-sided elections.

Sheikh Hasina categorically rejected these allegations, saying, “Many of the allegations are part of a politically motivated campaign. As soon as the allegations were raised, investigations were conducted and action was taken against the perpetrators.”

Sheikh Hasina also denied allegations that law enforcement used “excessive force” during the 2024 anti-government protests. She said, “My government has shown utmost patience and tried to find a peaceful resolution to the movement.”

Sheikh Hasina insisted that this was not just a simple student movement. Rather, it was “an organized campaign of planned violence, propaganda and the aim of overthrowing the government.”

Sheikh Hasina did not directly answer the question of whether she would return to active politics after returning home, given the fact that the Awami League’s activities are practically banned in Bangladesh. She said, “Power is not my goal. My goal is to serve the people.”

Sheikh Hasina did not formally apologize, though she expressed her condolences to the families of those killed in the protests. “I sympathize with every family who lost their loved ones,” she said.

However, in response to a question about whether he has any regrets about the decisions taken during the movement, he said, “The decision to run the state is not the decision of one person alone. It would not be right to judge one moment in isolation, leaving aside the context of the entire crisis.”

Source: NDTV