Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that she will return to her countryHolding her first public press conference since her ouster exactly two years ago, former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina reiterated her determination to return to her country by the end of this year. Addressing virtually the media gathering in Delhi, Hasina provided her version of events that led her to flee Bangladesh. She asserted that a conspiracy had been hatched to misguide genuine students, who protested against her govt, leading to its dissolution.Highlighting the violent character of the 2024 upheaval, Hasina said that hundreds of offices belonging to her Awami League party were vandalised, houses of Awami leaders were burnt, policemen attacked and killed, and thousands of Awami supporters were assaulted and murdered. Yet, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim govt passed an indemnity ordinance, later converted into a law, to protect the violent protesters.“I, myself, had instituted a judicial inquiry commission to investigate all the cases of violence independently, so that the truth could be known. But after the Yunus regime seized power, they stopped the work of the commission. If they had nothing to hide, why would they prevent the inquiry?” said Hasina. Alleging continuing violence and persecution under the current BNP-led govt, Hasina said that at least 10,000 Awami leaders and workers have been killed or disappeared. “Many Awami leaders, intellectuals and workers also continue to languish in jail without due process or trial, and they have been subjected to torture and denial of their legal rights.”Hasina’s son and senior Awami leader, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who also joined the press conference virtually from the US, stressed on the indemnity point. “None of the police killings, per the indemnity law, can be prosecuted. So, my question is this: Are killings acceptable? If you can have blanket immunity for protesters who killed police officers, killed civilians and Awami League members and leaders, then why blame anybody?”Joy added, “Bangladesh today is a failed state. There are no human rights, there is no freedom of speech. Political killings in Bangladesh, since August 2024, have been legalised.”Hasina also laid down her demands. “The ban on the Awami League must be lifted, political prisoners must be released, false cases must be dropped, freedom of speech must be restored, media freedom must be protected, and judicial independence must be guaranteed.” Asked about her return and the currentBangladeshi govt’s intention to arrest her if she does so, Hasina asserted, “I have been arrested many times in my political life. After returning to Bangladesh in 1981, I was arrested in 1983. Then again in 1985, 1987, even in 2007 they tried to stop my return when I was outside Bangladesh. But I returned. I know they might arrest me or even kill me. But my people support me and I have to be with them to save Bangladesh. I will not let fear dictate my life.”