Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced plans to return to Bangladesh from exile in India around December and voluntarily surrender before the courts. Speaking to Reuters, Hasina said she was prepared to face arrest or even death despite a death sentence handed down in her absence. Her planned return could become a defining moment in Bangladesh’s political crisis.
Hasina, 78, fled Bangladesh in 2024 after mass protests ended her two-decade rule across multiple terms as prime minister. Bangladesh’s war crimes tribunal later sentenced her to death over allegations that she ordered a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising. She has consistently denied the charges and maintains that the proceedings are politically motivated.
Read more: Sheikh Hasina announces plans to return to Bangladesh later this year
In the interview, Hasina said senior leaders of the banned Bangladesh Awami League also intend to return and surrender alongside her. She said party workers continue to face arrests, legal cases, and intimidation. According to Hasina, the decision reflects her commitment to confronting the legal process inside Bangladesh rather than remaining in exile.
The former prime minister also said she had not discussed her return with either the Indian or Bangladeshi governments. She added that Bangladesh has repeatedly sought her extradition from India, while New Delhi has previously stated it was reviewing Dhaka’s request. Analysts say her return could intensify domestic political tensions while also influencing relations between Bangladesh and India.
Read more: Sheikh Hasina’s interviews reveal defiance, not remorse, after ouster
Hasina argued that voters, not political rivals, should determine the future of her party. She acknowledged that governments can make mistakes but insisted the public should decide their fate through democratic processes. Her planned return, if carried out, is expected to attract significant regional and international attention.