May 08: The former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina who was facing charges of corruption and murder, returned to Bangladesh on Monday after 51 days. Her return marks a vital victory in her battle against the military-backed interim government which earlier imposed restrictions on her returning home.
The Awami League president, Sheikh Hasina, arrived at the Zia international airport at 4.45 p.m., by an Etihad Airways flight from London, via Abu Dhabi, amid tight security. She was received by senior leaders of her party, who were allowed to enter the airport terminal.
The former PM was also welcomed by thousands of people, committed to greet their leader outside the airport, despite strict emergency regulations.
“It’s my country, it’s my home. I’m so excited to be able to return to my country,’’ Hasina said at Dhaka’s Zia International Airport after arriving from London.
It took hours for the motorcade to reach the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, where her father was assassinated in 1975. She placed a garland before the portrait of Mujib. Then she went to her husband's Shudha Sadan residence at Dhanmandi.
Asked if she feared arrest, Hasina said, “The authorities made a mistake in imposing the ban on my return. I don’t think they are going to repeat that mistake.’’
Authorities had accused Sheikh Hasina of making ‘inflammatory statements’ about the country’s interim government while she was abroad, and warned that her return might create further confusion and incite divisions among the public. She was charged with abetting murder and extortion on April 11 while she was in the US on a personal visit.
At least 34 people died in weeks of protests. Hasina and her party have dismissed the charges as ‘farcical’. Hasina dismissed the charges as ‘false and motivated’ and said that she would face the charges in court.
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