Bangladesh ex-premier Sheikh Hasina plans December return from exile

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina intends to return to Bangladesh from her exile in India in December, according to an interview with The Associated Press. She has stated that she will make the journey regardless of the risks involved, even after a special tribunal sentenced her to death for her role in the government's crackdown on protesters.

Hasina fled to India following the mass uprising that removed her from power in 2024. In 2025, a special tribunal in Bangladesh found her guilty of crimes against humanity. The court ruled that she ordered the crackdown, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. The United Nations estimates the death toll at nearly 1,400 people. Hasina has rejected the verdict and contested the legitimacy of the trial, maintaining that she committed no wrongdoing.

Bangladesh has repeatedly requested India to extradite Hasina, but the Indian government has refused to hand her over. She first announced her intention to return in August. She told the Associated Press via email that her decision remains firm. "If death is my destiny, I would rather die on the soil of my own country, among my own people," she said. "So, I will return to Bangladesh. That decision has not changed."

Hasina served as prime minister from 2009 to 2024. She did not specify how she will travel back to Bangladesh. She acknowledged that she could face immediate arrest upon arrival. "I know that I may be arrested when I return. I may be imprisoned, tortured or even killed. I am fully aware of those possibilities," she said. "But I cannot spend the rest of my life watching my people suffer from a distance."

After Hasina left office, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus led an interim government for 18 months. In February, Tarique Rahman won a landslide election under Yunus's administration. Rahman is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and a long-time rival of Hasina. His party won the vote while Hasina's Awami League was barred from running candidates.

Hasina's planned return occurs as her political party faces a difficult situation. The Awami League remains banned, and many of its senior leaders have been arrested or forced into exile. Hasina alleges that at least 20,000 party members have been killed since August 2024. She said thousands more have been arrested, tortured, or forced to hide. She also stated that supporters have lost their homes, businesses, and livelihoods due to their political ties.

"There is no normal political or democratic environment," Hasina said, accusing authorities of systematically suppressing her party. Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have criticized Rahman's government for violating civil and political rights in recent months. The government maintains that arrests are based on specific charges.

Hasina said she does not expect the United States or India to pressure Bangladesh to guarantee her safety. "I value friendship and cooperation with all nations. That has always been our (Bangladesh's) foreign policy. But I do not need the blessing of a foreign power to return to my own country," she told the Associated Press.

Global rights groups and independent observers have expressed concern about the rise of radical groups during the interim administration. They reported that these groups attempted to suppress liberal forces and intimidate minority groups. The Yunus-led government denied these allegations. The current government faces criticism for a worsening law and order situation.

Hasina said she is concerned about the growing influence of hard-liners in Bangladesh. She noted that she took a tough stance against radical groups during her 15 years in power. "The present political environment has allowed extremist elements to become more confident," she said. The Press Wing of the prime minister's office did not respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press.