Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced plans to return to Bangladesh around December 2026, despite facing a death sentence and multiple legal cases. Speaking during an interview with Reuters from her exile in India, Hasina said she and several senior leaders of the Awami League intend to return voluntarily and surrender before the courts.
Hasina stated that her decision is based on her belief in the judicial process, adding that she wants to demonstrate what she described as the unfair treatment of her party. She also confirmed that she has not held discussions with the Bangladeshi government or any foreign country regarding her planned return.
The former prime minister has been living in exile since leaving Bangladesh following the political unrest that ended her long tenure in office. Her return is expected to attract significant political attention, as authorities in Dhaka have repeatedly requested her extradition from India. However, New Delhi has not publicly confirmed any decision regarding those requests.
Hasina also called for the removal of the ban on the Awami League, arguing that political parties should be judged by the people through democratic elections rather than legal restrictions. She revealed that she has continued communicating with party supporters through online meetings covering many parliamentary constituencies to help reorganize the party.
According to Hasina, numerous Awami League leaders and workers have faced arrests, legal cases, and alleged intimidation since her government was removed from power. She acknowledged that every government can make mistakes but insisted that the ultimate decision about a government’s performance belongs to the public.
The former premier said she is prepared to face imprisonment if necessary, noting that she had previously been jailed during earlier periods of political instability before eventually returning to office. While she admitted that legal convictions may prevent her from contesting future elections, she maintained that the Awami League should be allowed to participate freely in the country’s democratic process.
Her planned return could become one of the most significant political developments in Bangladesh this year, with observers closely watching its impact on the country’s political stability and relations with neighboring India.
