Overview
- In a telephonic interview reported on Wednesday, Hasina said she will return to Bangladesh by December and insisted she will come on her own rather than through an extradition process.
- Dhaka has made Hasina’s extradition a condition for advancing discussions about Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to New Delhi, while India says any extradition request is being examined through established legal channels.
- Hasina accused the BNP-led government of widespread political persecution, saying more than 600 cases are pending against her and claiming arrests, attacks on party members and use of the judiciary for revenge.
- She questioned a reported $2.3 billion purchase of Chinese J-10CE fighter jets given what she described as recent falls in GDP growth, rising unemployment and energy and fertiliser shortages.
- Hasina warned of growing extremism and cited a UN monitoring mechanism and concerns about al‑Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, a warning that she and others say could widen regional security and diplomatic fallout if unaddressed.