New Delhi, July 10 (EFE).- Ex-Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina plans to return to Bangladesh before the end of the year despite a death sentence handed down by a tribunal, her spokesperson told EFE on Friday.
Hasina’s official spokesperson, Mozammel Ali, said the former prime minister intends to return before Dec. 31 but has not yet decided on a specific date.
“She has mentioned that she would like to return to Bangladesh before the end of this year, obviously means by 31st of December, but she has not specified any particular date as yet,” Ali said, adding that she would announce her plans «in due course.»
Hasina was sentenced to death by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal over her alleged role in the violent crackdown on protests that toppled her government in 2024.
Ali dismissed the verdict as politically motivated.
“She is not bothered, because obviously the government of Bangladesh has convicted her in a kangaroo court, given her capital punishment, but she is not bothered about that. But she said, ‘that doesn’t worry me.”
He also shared what he described as Hasina’s own words: “And come what may, I would like to return to my country and I wish to help my fellow countrymen. And if I go, if they arrest me, let them arrest me.”
Ali said Hasina’s team has had no prior contact with Bangladesh’s current authorities regarding her planned return.
Hasina, who governed Bangladesh for 15 years and leads the Awami League, has repeatedly described the proceedings against her as «illegal, unconstitutional and politically motivated,» accusing the authorities of trying to dismantle her party.
The tribunal found her responsible for crimes linked to the suppression of student-led protests in August 2024, during which more than 1,400 people were killed, according to United Nations figures. Hasina has denied ordering any killings.
“To be absolutely clear: I have never killed anyone, nor did I issue orders to do so. This was a fast-moving and febrile situation but to characterize what happened as an attempt by the country’s leadership to attack its own people is entirely wrong,» she told EFE in a previous interview.
Ali declined to comment on whether India, where Hasina has lived since leaving Bangladesh, has come under pressure to extradite her.
In April, the Indian government said it was reviewing Bangladesh’s extradition request and sought to «collaborate constructively» with the administration of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who took office after the February elections. EFE
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