New Delhi, November 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to return to her country despite the possibility of arrest, imprisonment or even death, saying she would rather die on Bangladeshi soil than remain separated from her people.
In an exclusive audio interview with IANS, Hasina said she was aware of the risks awaiting her in Dhaka but insisted that concerns about her personal safety would not change her resolve. She recalled returning to Bangladesh in 1981 despite military rule and again in 2007, when she knew she could face arrest under the military-backed government.
She said her political life had been marked by imprisonment and repeated attempts on her life, adding that fear had never prevented her from pursuing what she believed was right.
Hasina said the hardships faced by Bangladeshis had strengthened her determination to return. She alleged that Awami League leaders and workers were being persecuted, while ordinary citizens were suffering and families were losing their homes and livelihoods.
“How can I stay away while my people face such hardship?” she asked, reiterating that she wanted to stand alongside them regardless of the consequences.
The former Prime Minister also rejected allegations that she had ordered the killing of civilians during the 2024 uprising, saying she had instead initiated a judicial inquiry to establish the facts.
Hasina said she constituted a Judicial Enquiry Commission headed by a High Court judge on July 18, 2024, and expanded it to a three-member panel on August 1 to ensure a detailed examination of the deaths.
However, she accused the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus of stopping the investigation after assuming power. She further alleged that the administration subsequently granted legal protection to participants in the uprising for acts classified as “political resistance”, while murder cases were filed against her and thousands of Awami League leaders, activists and workers.
Questioning what she described as different standards of justice based on political affiliation, Hasina said the inquiry she had initiated should have been allowed to establish what happened during the unrest.
She also rejected the proceedings and verdict of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), alleging that she had not been given a genuine opportunity to defend herself.
“I will examine whatever lawful options are available to challenge that verdict,” she told IANS.
Hasina’s comments represent her account of the events and her response to the allegations against her. The claims made in the interview have not been independently established in the material provided.
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