Status: Hasina’s statement confirmed; timing and consequences of her return remain uncertain
NEW DELHI/DHAKA — Former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina has called for the prohibition on her Awami League party to be removed and reaffirmed that she intends to return to Bangladesh before the end of December.
Speaking through an audio address at a media event in New Delhi, Hasina said the possibility of imprisonment—or other threats to her safety—would not prevent her from going back. She did not disclose an exact date.
Hasina left Bangladesh after a student-led uprising ended her government in 2024. In November 2025, the country’s war-crimes court sentenced her to death in absentia after finding her responsible for ordering a deadly crackdown on demonstrators. Hasina denies the accusations and describes the proceedings as politically motivated.
Bangladesh’s government criticized the New Delhi event, calling it an affront to the country’s sovereignty. Dhaka had previously warned domestic media organizations against publishing Hasina’s statements, citing an existing court order.
Why it matters: Hasina’s proposed return could trigger new legal and political confrontations between the Awami League and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party government. The controversy could also create additional tension between Dhaka and New Delhi.
