Sheikh Hasina Vows Return to Bangladesh Despite Death Sentence

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced her intention to return to Bangladesh in December, despite facing a death sentence for crimes against humanity. Speaking via an audio link at a press conference hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia in New Delhi, the 78 year old leader stated that she is determined to return to her country regardless of the risk of imprisonment or execution. This event marked her first public media appearance since she fled to India in August 2024 following a student led uprising that ended her 15 year rule.

Hasina described the 2024 protests as having been transformed into a violent political instrument by organized groups. She called for the lifting of the ban on her party, the Awami League, and the release of political prisoners. Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, stated that the Indian government has treated her with the respect and security befitting a head of state. The Indian government officially distanced itself from the event, stating it was organized by a private entity and that India does not endorse the views expressed.

The current government in Dhaka, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, expressed outrage over the event. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry called the interaction an affront to national sovereignty and detrimental to bilateral relations with India. Dhaka has repeatedly requested Hasina's extradition, a request India says it is examining. Domestic media in Bangladesh were warned by the government not to publish or broadcast Hasina's statements.

Hours after the press conference, the family home of former cricket captain and lawmaker Shakib Al Hasan in Magura was attacked. Reports indicate that miscreants threw brick chips and vandalized windows, with some sources reporting that a petrol bomb was hurled at the residence. The attack occurred after Shakib virtually joined Hasina's media event. The Awami League characterized the attack as a testament to a genocidal campaign against its activists, while police stated that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

International observers and the United Nations have provided context regarding the 2024 unrest. UN investigators found evidence of systematic repression and killings of protesters by the Hasina government, estimating that up to 1,400 people died. Hasina has rejected these findings and the subsequent death sentence issued in her absence in November 2025, calling the verdicts politically motivated.