Fear, personal safety cannot decide my duty to the people: Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina. File | Photo Credit: AP Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was deposed in August 2024 following protests, on Wednesday (August 5, 2026) virtually addressed a press conference here and said “fear” and “concerns of personal safety” will not prevent her from returning home.She said the members of her party, Awami League, have been persecuted and killed, and called for lifting the ban on the party. She termed India a country that has “always been a friend” and supported Bangladesh when it faced difficulties in 1971 and 1975.“I know, I may be detained. I may be sent to prison, and they may implicate me in fabricated cases. But fear cannot decide my duty to the people, my life or beyond. My life has been beyond the considerations of personal safety for long,” said Ms. Hasina indicating that she may return in December 2026 as “December is the month of victory.”“You will get to know when I decide to go,” said Ms. Hasina when asked about the date of her return.Awami League activists said Ms. Hasina will not use a third country to reach Dhaka, and she will take permission from the Indian authorities in December before starting her journey.Ms. Hasina recounted that she along with her mother were imprisoned in 1971 during the Liberation War and that she lost most of her family members in 1975. She said she had survived multiple imprisonments and 19 assassination attempts.“Even the August 21, 2004, grenade attack could not stop me. Therefore, I am not worried about my own future. I am worried about the future of Bangladesh. I want to return because people deserve security, development, prosperity and peace,” said Ms. Hasina. She described the protesters of 2024 as “organised” groups that worked according to a “meticulous” plan.The media event at the Foreign Correspondents Club was the first occasion when Ms. Hasina answered questions from the international media since arriving here on August 5, 2024.“Fear has entered homes, workplaces and campuses. This is not the Bangladesh that we built,” said Ms. Hasina, accusing the interim government and the current dispensation led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of being responsible for the breakdown in law-and-order situation in the country.Ms. Hasina referred to an investigation committee that she had ordered to probe the uprising of July-August 2024 and accused the interim government under Mohammed Yunus of scrapping that commission.On Tuesday, authorities in Bangladesh had issued a notification urging news outlets to avoid telecasting the speech and the interaction that was beamed live on social media.The press conference was announced on Sunday following which the Bangladesh government had communicated to Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi that Ms. Hasina’s political activities from Indian territory may harm bilateral relations. On Tuesday, the External Affairs Ministry said the government had no “involvement” with the programme.The meeting was addressed by Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Ms. Hasina’s son, who accused the current government of being soft on extremists. “Bangladesh has become another Pakistan. Hizbut Tahrir moves freely there. Al Qaeda leaders hold public rallies,” Mr. Joy said, adding that the security situation in Bangladesh is a matter of concern for India and the world. Published - August 05, 2026 07:41 pm IST