Hasina’s message : Deposed Bangladesh PM dares Rahman govt
The Tribune Editorial: Whether her return becomes a catalyst for reconciliation or further confrontation depends on the willingness of all stakeholders.
STRIKING a note of defiance, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced her plan to return home in December — despite a high risk of being jailed or killed. Her audio-only virtual press conference, held on the second anniversary of her escape to India after she was deposed, has heightened tensions in a nation still struggling to recover from the upheaval of July-August 2024. Hasina insists that her decision is motivated not by a desire to reclaim power but by a commitment to restoring democracy, secularism and economic progress. She has also sought lifting of the ban on her party, the Awami League, and the release of political prisoners. However, the Bangladeshi government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has dismissed her remarks, stating that Hasina is a convicted leader who must face justice for crimes committed during the violent crackdown on student-led protests.
