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Sheikh Hasina Vows to Return to Bangladesh in December Despite Facing a Death Sentence

Sheikh Hasina, the former Bangladeshi Prime Minister, announced her intention to return to her home country in December. Speaking from exile in India, she expressed readiness to face arrest, imprisonment, or even death, stating that fear should not dictate her duty to the people. This announcement comes after she was ousted in 2024 following a student-led uprising that left nearly 1,400 people allegedly killed by the government's crackdown. While Sheikh Hasina remains in India, she has been sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity. She dismissed the verdicts as politically motivated and described the uprising as a coordinated assault rather than a popular movement. Her return is expected to be a political gamble to boost the morale of her banned Awami League party. Meanwhile, the current government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has expressed outrage over India allowing her to address journalists. Dhaka accused India of giving a platform to a 'convicted genocider' and requested the extradition of Sheikh Hasina.

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