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Sheikh Hasina vows return to Bangladesh despite jail or death
Two years after her ouster, former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina declared from a virtual press conference in India on 5 August 2026 that she intends to return to her country, even…
The Story in Brief
Two years after her ouster, former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina declared from a virtual press conference in India on 5 August 2026 that she intends to return to her country, even at the risk of imprisonment or death. Bangladesh's foreign ministry strongly protested the political activity conducted from Indian soil. Hasina's party, the Awami League, remains a potent force despite arrests and exile of its leaders.
Analysts say Hasina will certainly be jailed and tried upon return. The Jamaat and student leaders, holding her responsible for deaths during the 2024 student movement, may demand severe punishment. India's image in Bangladesh is poor, and the political situation remains unsettled under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
The Indian Opinion
Much of the commentary frames Hasina's return as either a heroic gamble or a doomed provocation. But the real test is whether Bangladesh's judiciary can deliver a fair trial to a former leader, something it has failed to do in past high-profile cases. The student-led July uprising promised constitutional reforms that remain unimplemented. If Hasina is hanged in a rushed process, outrage may be short-lived, as with Bhutto in 1979. A better question: will any party, ruling or opposition, allow due process to prevail?
Source: rediff.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
