Kathmandu— Ousted former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced Wednesday that she plans to return to Bangladesh from exile in India in December. Despite facing a death sentence at home over the violent suppression of protests in 2024, Hasina declared her intention to face her fate and serve her people, stating, 'I know that they may put me in jail, or they may kill me, but still I have to go back.'

Hasina's Media Event in New Delhi

During a media event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia in New Delhi, Hasina delivered an audio message from behind a blank screen. This marked her first public statement since fleeing to India two years ago. She did not reveal why she chose not to show her face during the event, while other Awami League leaders and her son had appeared on camera earlier.

Impact on Bangladesh-India Relations

The announcement has further strained relations between Bangladesh and India. Dhaka has repeatedly sought Hasina's extradition since she fled to India in 2024, but New Delhi has yet to act on the request. The Bangladeshi government criticized Wednesday’s event as an insult to its sovereignty and deeply hurtful, warning local media not to publish her remarks due to a court order prohibiting such broadcasts or publications.

Hasina's Call for Political Reforms

In her address, Hasina called on the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to lift its ban on her party and release political prisoners. She argued that what began as protests over public job quotas had turned into a coordinated effort to remove her from power and undermine the constitution. Additionally, she claimed that Bangladesh's economy had worsened since her departure, citing slower growth, weaker investment, and an increase in unemployment.

Museum Dedicated to 2024 Uprising

On Wednesday, Bangladesh inaugurated a new museum dedicated to the July Mass Uprising of 2024. The memorial museum sits inside Hasina's former official residence in Dhaka and includes audio and video displays, personal items belonging to victims, newspaper clippings from the time, and material documenting alleged abuses during her years in power.

(With inputs from DW)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.