The ex-Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has now vowed to return to her country this year.
In an interview on Sunday, the former leader confirmed her return months after she was sentenced to death for committing crimes against humanity.
In August 2024, the ex-PM fled to India after an uprising erupted in Bangladesh, ending her 15 year rule.
Since then, she has not made any public appearances.
During an interview with Indian broadcasting platform NDTV, Sheikh Hasina shared that she was not scared of death.
“I want to say clearly, overcoming every obstacle and every conspiracy, I will return to my country this year”, she said.
She further called the judgement passed on her a part of an ‘illegal, unconstitutional and politically motivated process.’
While talking about the events leading up to her sentence, Sheikh Hasina said, “Many conspiracies have been hatched against me. But breaking through every web of conspiracy. I was elected prime minister five times by the people’s vote and worked for the country’s unprecedented development.”
Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka for crimes against humanity.
During the student-led uprisings in 2024, she was convicted of inciting mass killings and authorising the use of deadly force against protesters.
In a separate legal ruling, she was also sentenced to 21 years in prison for illegally securing government plots for herself and her family.
The interim government in Dhaka has previously formally requested the Indian government to hand her over. However, India has not complied.
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