New Delhi: Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has announced plans to return to the country from exile in India around December, saying she is prepared to surrender before the court despite the possibility of arrest or further legal action against her. Hasina fled Bangladesh in 2024 after a student-led uprising ended her long tenure in power. She said she wants to return and stand trial with other senior Awami League leaders.
According to Reuters, Hasina made the remarks during a nearly hour-long telephone interview, marking the first time she has publicly shared a timeline for her return. She said former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who faces a similar death sentence, was also among those planning to return and surrender.
“I may be arrested on my return, they may even kill me,” Hasina told Reuters. “Still, I have to go. If death comes, I want it to come on my own soil, where my parents are buried.”
Hasina’s possible return could further intensify political tensions in Bangladesh, where the interim government has been attempting to restore stability after months of unrest. The move could also impact Bangladesh-India relations, which have faced strain since New Delhi provided her refuge after she left Dhaka.
Bangladesh has repeatedly requested India to extradite Hasina, who was sentenced to death in absentia by the country’s war crimes tribunal in November over allegations of ordering a violent crackdown on protesters. Hasina has rejected the accusations, calling the proceedings politically motivated.
The Awami League, which ruled Bangladesh for years under Hasina’s leadership, has faced restrictions following her ouster, with several party leaders and activists arrested or forced into hiding.
Hasina said she believes the legal proceedings will allow people to judge the allegations against her government. She argued that political decisions should ultimately be decided by voters and questioned the suspension of her party’s activities.
The former prime minister said she is not afraid of imprisonment, recalling that she had previously faced arrests during military-backed rule before returning to power through elections in 2008. She added that the Awami League would continue efforts to reorganise itself and claimed that party supporters were being targeted across the country.
Sheikh Hasina plans December return to Bangladesh, says ready to face arrest and trial
Sheikh Hasina has announced plans to return from exile in India around December and surrender before the court despite the risk of arrest or further legal action.
Sheikh Hasina plans December return to Bangladesh. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia)