Hasina vows return to Bangladesh despite prison risk

Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s ousted former prime minister, says she plans to return home in December even if that means arrest or imprisonment. In an audio broadcast reported by Dawn, Hasina told listeners in New Delhi that fear would not determine her duty to the people and that she could not remain away while Bangladeshis were suffering.

The remarks come nearly two years after Hasina’s government was toppled in a student-led uprising on August 5, 2024. She fled to India by helicopter as crowds stormed her official residence, ending a long and controversial period in power. The United Nations has said up to 1,400 people were killed in crackdowns during the unrest.

Hasina signals return despite legal danger

Hasina, 78, said she wants to come back in December because the month marks Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. She made similar comments in an earlier interview in July, when she said she hoped to return before the end of the year.

In a separate email from hiding, Hasina wrote that she understood the risks she faced, including death, arrest or prison, but still wanted to go back because her people were calling her. Her statements were delivered while she remains in India, where she has been living in hiding.

Dhaka pushes for extradition

The political and legal stakes around any return remain high. In November 2025, a court in Dhaka found Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced her to death by hanging. The Bangladeshi government has formally requested her extradition, while New Delhi has said the request is under examination.

Dhaka has also said Hasina would receive due legal process in any case if she comes back. Rights groups have long accused her former administration of abuses, including killings of opponents, repression of rival parties and the misuse of courts.

Reaction in Bangladesh remains sharply divided

Her comments drew anger in Bangladesh, where protesters burned her effigy after the broadcast, according to the source report. The latest statements also underline how deeply polarized the country remains over Hasina’s legacy and the upheaval that followed her removal from office.

For now, her declaration of a return in December adds another layer of uncertainty to Bangladesh politics and to the broader dispute over whether India will hand her over to Dhaka.

What happens next?

If Hasina does try to return, the move would immediately raise legal and diplomatic questions. The extradition request remains under review, and the Bangladesh government has indicated it intends to proceed through the courts.

For the moment, Hasina is publicly insisting that her personal safety will not keep her from what she describes as a duty to her country.

FAQ

Will Sheikh Hasina return to Bangladesh in December?

Hasina said she intends to return in December, but no return has been confirmed.

Why is Sheikh Hasina in India?

She fled to India after a student-led uprising removed her from power in August 2024.

What is Bangladesh seeking from India?

Dhaka has formally requested Hasina’s extradition, which India says is under examination.