Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced that she intends to return to her country “this year,” despite being sentenced to death in absentia on charges related to crimes against humanity.
In an interview with Indian broadcaster NDTV, the 78-year-old former leader said she was not afraid of death and dismissed the court proceedings against her as “illegal, unconstitutional, and politically motivated.”
Her remarks come months after a Bangladeshi court handed down the death sentence while she remained outside the country.
Living in India Since 2024
Sheikh Hasina has been living in India since August 2024 after a student-led uprising brought an end to her 15-year rule. The nationwide protests forced her government from power, leading her to leave Bangladesh for neighboring India.
Since her departure, Hasina has largely stayed out of the public eye. Her only notable public appearance was a speech delivered via broadcast to a gathering at a press club in New Delhi in January.
Rejects Verdict, Says She Is Not Afraid
During the interview, Hasina said numerous conspiracies had been orchestrated against her throughout her political career but insisted that she had always overcome them.
“I want to say clearly: overcoming every obstacle and every conspiracy, I will return to my country this year,” she said when asked whether she would return despite the death sentence.
The former prime minister also defended her political legacy, stating that she had been elected prime minister five times through the people’s vote and had worked to achieve unprecedented development for Bangladesh during her tenure.
Bangladesh Court Sentences Former PM Sheikh Hasina to Death
Court Conviction and Political Fallout
Last November, a court in Dhaka convicted Hasina in absentia on charges including incitement, ordering killings, and failing to prevent atrocities. The court sentenced her to death by hanging.
Following the political transition, the activities of her former ruling party, the Awami League, were outlawed, marking a dramatic shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
The case against Hasina remains one of the country’s most politically significant legal proceedings and continues to draw international attention.
Bangladesh-India Relations and Extradition Issue
Relations between Bangladesh and India have improved since Prime Minister Tarique Rahman secured a landslide victory in the country’s general election held in February. However, one of the key issues affecting bilateral ties remains Bangladesh’s repeated demand for Hasina’s extradition from India.
Despite those demands and the legal proceedings against her, Hasina has reiterated her intention to return to Bangladesh, signaling that she does not consider her political career to be over. Whether and when such a return will take place remains uncertain, given the ongoing legal and political challenges surrounding her case.
