FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW Vijay blames police, former DMK govt for Karur stampede | Saturday, 11 July 2026 France advance behind Mbappé brilliance Mediators intensify efforts to revive US-Iran talks amid fighting SATURDAY INTERVIEW Page 15 ‘No anti-incumbency in Uttarakhand’ Page 11 Page 9 Page 6 Sheikh Hasina says she will return to B’desh in December STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE PM arrives in NZ on first bilateral visit in 40 years STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 10 July New Delhi, 10 July Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced that she, alongside other exiled leaders of the Awami League, intends to return to Bangladesh voluntarily around December, despite facing the prospect of arrest or death upon her arrival. In an interview with the Reuters news agency, the 78-year-old leader, who fled to India following a student-led uprising that unseated her administration in August 2024, stated that she plans to surrender before the judicial courts upon her return. She further clarified that there has been no communication with the current authorities in Dhaka concerning her planned homecoming. “They may arrest me on my return, they may even kill me,” Sheikh Hasina told the news agency. “Still, I have to go.” SILIGURI SPORTS WORLD NATION | P Expressing deep concern over the ongoing situation of her political supporters back home, the former Prime Minister emphasised her resolve to face the consequences on her home soil. “My party leaders and workers are being subjected to tremendous repression. If death comes, I want it to come on my own soil, where my parents are buried and where their blood was shed,” she added. Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal had earlier sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death after convicting her of crimes against humanity. rime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Auckland on Friday on a historic bilateral visit to New Zealand, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country in four decades, with both sides expected to hold wide-ranging discussions to further deepen cooperation across multiple sectors. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon personally received Mr Modi at the airport. Calling the visit a landmark occasion, the Prime Minister said in a post on X: “This visit is historic, being the first Prime Ministerial visit to New Zealand in four decades. I look forward to holding talks with Prime Minister Luxon and discussing the complete range of the India-NZ friendship. I will also be addressing a community programme tomorrow in Auckland.” On Friday evening, members of the Indian diaspora welcomed the Prime Minister with resplendent cultural performances at his Auckland hotel. In a post on X, the PM underlined how the performances showcased the cultures of Punjab, Tamil Nadu, a fusion of Carnatic and Hindustani classical music and a stirring rendition of Vande Mataram. He praised the community and said: “I compliment our diaspora for keeping India’s cultural heritage vibrant across generations and continents and for strengthening the enduring peopleto-people bonds between India and New Zealand." “The love and affection of the New Zealand’s Indian community touched me deeply. They have waited four decades for the visit of an Indian Prime Minister and their extraordinary enthusiasm and warmth were visible today. Their bond with India remains unwavering,” PM Modi said in another post on X. New Zealand’s iconic Sky Tower was lit in the colours of India’s national flag as Prime Minister Modi began his historic visit to the country. During the visit, Mr Modi and Mr Luxon are expected to hold comprehensive discussions on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, education, technology, clean energy, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges. The two leaders are also likely to review the progress of bilateral ties and identify new areas of collaboration as India and New Zealand seek to strengthen their partnership. Anti-Hooliganism Act to come into force on Monday; UCC panel constituted: CM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Berhampore, 10 July Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday announced that the state’s newly enacted Anti-Hooliganism Act will come into force from Monday, while the process of constituting a committee to prepare the framework for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been completed. The announcements were made after a high-level administrative review meeting held in Berhampore during his visit to Murshidabad district, where law and order, border security, river erosion and measures to curb human trafficking figured prominently in the discussions. Addressing reporters after the meeting, the Chief Minister said the state Cabinet has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to examine and prepare the roadmap for introducing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. “The UCC committee has already been formed by the Cabinet. It is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai. We are hopeful that the committee will submit its report at the earliest, following which the government will introduce the UCC Bill in the Assembly,” he said. Government sources indicated that the administration intends to place the proposed legislation before the Assembly soon.