New Delhi: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she hopes to return to Bangladesh by December, nearly two years after being removed from power, despite acknowledging that she could face imprisonment or even death upon her return.
She made the remarks during her first public address since leaving Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, at an event organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in New Delhi.
Speaking about her plans, Hasina said, “When the time is right, I will tell you. December is our victory month. I want to go back by December.” She also acknowledged the risks, saying, “I may be sent to prison or be killed, but fear cannot decide my duty to the people.”
Recalling her personal journey, Hasina said she lost most of her family in 1975 and spent six years in exile. She added that she is not worried about her own future but is deeply concerned about the future of Bangladesh.
Emphasising that her return is not politically motivated, Hasina said, “My return is not about power. It is about putting Bangladesh back on the right track. I want to return to stand beside the people and help improve their lives. The people are the source of all power.”
She also expressed disappointment over the developments in Bangladesh over the past two years, saying the country is not the one that millions of people sacrificed their lives to build in 1971.
