Sheikh Hasina Vows Return to Bangladesh Despite Death Sentence

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emphatically stated her intention to return to her home country this year, despite the significant personal and political risks involved. The declaration was made in an exclusive interview with NDTV, among other Indian media outlets, highlighting her defiance almost two years after her dramatic ouster and subsequent self-exile in India. Sheikh Hasina, who led Bangladesh for 15 years, was forced to resign and flee the country on August 5, 2024, amidst widespread, student-led protests that escalated into a nationwide uprising against her government. The demonstrations, initially sparked by a controversial quota system for government jobs, morphed into a broader movement demanding an end to her authoritarian rule. Following her resignation, Hasina, along with her sister, sought refuge in India, arriving in Delhi via military transport. Since her departure, Hasina has remained in self-exile in India, where she has been accorded full security and treated akin to a head of state. This arrangement underscores the close diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh, and India's role as a regional power offering sanctuary to a former leader. However, her stay in India has not been without controversy, with Bangladesh's interim government previously protesting her interviews with Indian media outlets. In a dramatic turn of events, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia in November 2025 on charges of crimes against humanity. The charges were linked to her administration's actions during the July-August 2024 protests, which a United Nations fact-finding mission estimated resulted in over 1,400 deaths. Hasina has vehemently rejected this verdict, labeling it as illegal, unconstitutional, and politically motivated, designed to weaken her party, the Awami League, and exact political revenge. She asserted that she does not fear death, drawing parallels to the assassination of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the loss of her family in 1975, and reiterated her resolve to overcome all obstacles. Further complicating her political standing, the Awami League, her long-standing political party, was banned across Bangladesh in May 2025 by the interim government. This ban was justified by citing the party's alleged role in the violent crackdown on the 2024 protests. Many of its leaders and workers have since faced arrests and legal action. The political landscape in Bangladesh has undergone significant transformation since Hasina's ouster. An interim administration, initially led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, governed the country. Subsequently, general elections were held on February 12, 2026, marking the first such polls since the July Uprising. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, secured a landslide victory, winning a two-thirds majority and forming the new government. The Awami League was barred from participating in these elections. Hasina's declared return 'this year' (2026) comes at a sensitive time. Her motivation, she states, is not personal ambition but rather the restoration of democratic rights, the rule of law, and the spirit of Bangladesh's Liberation War. She has criticized the current leadership for allegedly weakening democracy, allowing the economy to deteriorate, and failing to protect minority communities, noting a reported increase in attacks against Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and other minority groups since August 2024. The current Bangladeshi government has maintained that if Hasina returns, she must do so through legal procedures, and existing legal actions against her will continue. The story is highly relevant for an Indian audience due to the geopolitical implications of political instability in a neighbouring country. India shares extensive borders with Bangladesh, and any major political upheaval, including the return of a controversial former leader, can impact regional security, trade, and refugee flows. India's providing sanctuary to Hasina also puts it in a delicate diplomatic position with the current Bangladeshi government. The ongoing political developments in Bangladesh, particularly the shift from the Awami League to the BNP and the subsequent ban on Hasina's party, represent a significant regional event with potential long-term consequences. Her decision to return, despite the grave risks, highlights the deep-seated political divisions and the ongoing struggle for power in Bangladesh. Her planned return could ignite further political tensions and potentially challenge the stability of the newly formed BNP government.

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