Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 6: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday declared that she would return to Bangladesh despite the risk of arrest or death, asserting that her mission was to restore the country's path of development and secularism rather than reclaim political power.
Addressing the media virtually from Delhi, Hasina said she had never been separated from the people of Bangladesh despite being forced to leave the country.
"I speak as someone who has spent her life with the people of Bangladesh and was forced away from my country, but I was never separated from my people," she said.
Hasina maintained that her return was "not about power" but about putting Bangladesh "back on the track of development and secularism."
"I know they may put me in jail or kill me, but fear can't decide my duty," she said.
Reflecting on the past two years, Hasina said she had watched her "beloved Bangladesh suffer" and insisted the country had strayed from the ideals for which millions sacrificed their lives during the 1971 Liberation War.
She rejected the narrative surrounding the July-August 2024 unrest, claiming it was not a peaceful student movement. According to her, the government had initially sought to resolve the situation through dialogue, legal measures and patience, but organised groups had exploited the students' demands to fuel political violence.
Hasina also criticised Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, referring to his reported remarks that the movement had been "meticulously designed" and led by a "mastermind." She argued that the protests were organised and directed to create a path to power outside the democratic process rather than being a spontaneous student uprising.
During the interaction, her son Sajeeb Wazed questioned the casualty figures from the 2024 protests, highlighting differences between estimates released by the United Nations and the Bangladeshi authorities. He claimed repeated requests by their party and legal team for the UN to disclose the identities of those included in its reported death toll had not received a response.
Wazed also criticised the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, alleging that it enacted legislation granting blanket immunity to protesters for actions committed during the unrest, including the killing of civilians, political workers and police personnel. He described the move as unprecedented and contrary to principles of justice and human rights.
Hasina further alleged that fear had spread across homes, workplaces and educational institutions in Bangladesh, saying the present situation was far removed from the nation she had led.
She reiterated that the 2024 protests were orchestrated to become a violent political movement rather than a genuine student-led campaign.