Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced plans to return to the country from exile in India in December, despite facing a death sentence. In an interview with Reuters, the 78-year-old former leader said she aims to challenge the legal shuttering of her Awami League party.

Hasina fled to India after the 2024 student-led uprising against her authoritarian rule. Her return could impact efforts to stabilize Bangladeshi politics, but the current authorities have made clear they intend to arrest her. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed called her a "mass murderer" and ruled out any leniency.

Hasina urged exiled party members to join her: "All together, we will all surrender in court." She dismissed the legal proceedings as "farcical." However, the government has vowed to bring her to justice for alleged crimes during her tenure.

Her 20-year rule transformed Bangladesh's economy, lifting millions out of poverty, but was marred by authoritarianism and rigged elections. She is now reorganizing her party from abroad, holding online meetings with constituencies.

Hasina's presence in India has strained bilateral ties, with Bangladesh's new authorities demanding her extradition. Her voluntary return could potentially defuse the tension, though she risks arrest or worse upon arrival.

Source: www.aljazeera.com