Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's exiled former Prime Minister, has declared her intention to return to the country by December while calling for her Awami League party's ban to be lifted, despite facing a death sentence issued in her absence.
Sheikh Hasina, 78, addressed international media from New Delhi on Wednesday, reaffirming her commitment to return to Bangladesh despite the significant legal and personal risks she faces. Speaking at an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia on the second anniversary of her 2024 ouster, Hasina stated she would provide specific details about her return at an appropriate time. According to Reuters, she previously indicated plans to surrender to authorities upon arrival by year's end.
Hasina fled Bangladesh two years ago following mass protests that ended her two decades of leadership across multiple terms. A war crimes tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia in November 2025 for allegedly ordering a crackdown on student-led demonstrations. She has rejected these charges as politically motivated and fabricated. The current government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, warned local media on Tuesday against publishing her statements, citing a 2024 court order prohibiting broadcast of her speeches.
During her address delivered via audio while appearing on a blank screen—a departure from other speakers who appeared on camera—Hasina characterised the protests that toppled her government as an orchestrated campaign involving coordinated violence and propaganda. She claimed the movement initially focused on public sector job quotas before evolving into a broader effort to remove her administration. Hasina also asserted that Bangladesh's economy has declined significantly since her removal, citing slower growth, weakened investment, reduced job creation, and alleged unemployment affecting over 20 million people.
While her statement circulated widely on social media outside Bangladesh, no domestic media coverage was permitted. Simultaneously, protesters in Dhaka burned her effigy, demonstrating continued opposition to the former premier's political influence.
