Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina said she will return to her home country to stand with her people [1].
The announcement marks a significant escalation in the political tension surrounding the former leader, who has remained in India since her removal from power. Her return could trigger widespread unrest or legal challenges depending on the current administration's response.
Speaking at her first press conference in Delhi since being ousted in August 2024 [2], Hasina said she plans to return in December 2024 [3]. She described her time in India as a two-year period of exile [4].
Hasina said that her primary motivation for returning is to help improve the lives of Bangladeshi citizens. She said the people are the source of all power and that she trusts and loves them [1].
Despite the potential for violence or arrest, the former prime minister expressed a willingness to face any outcome. "Whatever fate awaits me, I will return to my people," Hasina said [5].
She further acknowledged the severity of the risks associated with her return to the country. "They may even kill me, still I have to go," Hasina said [5].
Hasina said that although she was forced to leave Bangladesh, she never felt separated from the population [2]. She said she wants to return for the sole purpose of standing beside the people [1].
“Whatever fate awaits me, I will return to my people.”
Sheikh Hasina's pledge to return to Bangladesh represents a direct challenge to the stability of the current governing structure. By framing her return as a humanitarian and populist mission, she seeks to maintain her political legitimacy and connection to the electorate while highlighting the risks she faces, which may serve to galvanize her supporters against the current regime.
