As Bangladesh braces for a special tribunal's verdict against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina over alleged crimes against humanity, her son and advisor Sajeeb Wazed said his mother is safe in India.
Wazed said they would not appeal against the verdict unless a democratically elected government took office with the Awami League's participation.
"We know exactly what the verdict is going to be. They're televising it. They're going to convict her, and they'll probably sentence her to death," Wazed, who lives in Washington DC, told Reuters.
"What can they do to my mother? My mother is safe in India. India is giving her full security".
Wazed said that supporters of Awami League would block February's national election if a ban on the party was not lifted, warning that protests could escalate into violence.
The interim government in Bangladesh had suspended the Awami League's registration in May and banned its political activities, citing national security threats.
"We will not allow elections without the Awami League to go ahead. Our protests will only get stronger, and we will do whatever it takes. Unless the international community does something, eventually there's probably going to be violence in Bangladesh before these elections," he said.
Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) will deliver the verdict against the 78-year-old leader on Monday after completing her trial in absentia.
Hasina, along with then home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and then inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, faces charges of murder, attempted murder, torture, and other inhumane acts.
Security has been beefed up across Bangladesh ahead of the verdict, with police in Dhaka ordered to shoot violent protesters.
