Sheikh Hasina Says She Will Return to Bangladesh This Year Despite Death Sentence
Bangladesh’s ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to return to her country “this year”, dismissing the death sentence handed to her in absentia as politically motivated and unconstitutional. In an interview with Indian broadcaster NDTV aired on Sunday, the 78-year-old said she remained unfazed by the verdict and insisted that no conspiracy would stop her from returning to Bangladesh.
“I want to say clearly: overcoming every obstacle and every conspiracy, I will return to my country this year,” Hasina said when asked whether she planned to return despite facing a death sentence. The former premier accused Bangladesh’s current authorities of pursuing a politically driven campaign against her, saying the trial that convicted her was neither lawful nor constitutional.
“Many conspiracies have been hatched against me. But despite every conspiracy, I was elected prime minister five times by the people’s mandate and worked for the country’s unprecedented development,” she said. Hasina fled to India in August 2024 after a student-led uprising ended her 15-year tenure in power. Since then, she has remained in exile, making only a handful of public appearances, including a speech delivered virtually to supporters from New Delhi earlier this year.
Last November, a Dhaka court sentenced Hasina to death in absentia after convicting her on charges that included incitement, ordering killings and failing to prevent atrocities during the unrest that preceded her removal from office. Her Awami League, once Bangladesh’s dominant political force, has since been banned from carrying out political activities.
Hasina’s comments come amid continuing demands from Dhaka for her extradition from India. While relations between the two neighbours have improved following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s election victory in February, Bangladesh has continued to press New Delhi to hand over the former prime minister to face the court’s verdict.
Her declaration signals an intention to return despite the legal and political challenges awaiting her, setting the stage for a potentially contentious chapter in Bangladesh’s already turbulent political landscape.
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