Key facts
- Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina intends to return to Bangladesh in December.
- Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity, including ordering lethal force against protesters.
- She fled to India in 2024 following an anti-government uprising that led to her ousting after 15 years in power.
- Hasina claims organizations turned student protests into a violent movement, though she provided no evidence.
- An estimated 1,400 people were killed during the 2024 protests, primarily by security forces.
- Bangladesh's current government has expressed outrage over India allowing Hasina to address the media.
Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared her intention to return to Bangladesh in December, despite facing a death penalty for crimes against humanity. Hasina, who denies the charges, was tried in absentia after fleeing to India in 2024 during an anti-government uprising. She stated her resolve to return, acknowledging the risks of imprisonment or death.
Hasina's Awami League party has reportedly been weakening, and India has faced pressure to extradite her following her death sentence last year for ordering lethal force against protesters. This virtual address to the media in Delhi was her first since being ousted after 15 years in power. She alleged that external organizations had transformed the 2024 student protests into a violent movement, though she offered no evidence. A verified audio recording of her authorizing a crackdown was used as key evidence in her conviction, which the UN estimates led to approximately 1,400 deaths.
Hasina fled Dhaka as mass protests and the storming of government buildings plunged the nation into crisis. An interim government assumed power, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) subsequently won elections, with Tarique Rahman becoming prime minister. The current government has warned local media against publishing Hasina's comments and expressed outrage at India allowing her a platform. They stated Bangladesh would not return to 'dark days of fascism' or become a 'client state'.
Hasina's presence in India has strained relations, with Bangladesh seeking her extradition. Analysts predict her return could trigger political unrest and immediate arrest. Supporters of the ruling BNP and other groups might demand her sentence be carried out. The stakes are also high for the Awami League, which was banned and barred from elections after Hasina fled. Party leaders claim hundreds of supporters have been killed or died in custody, accusations denied by Dhaka officials. Some within the Awami League express discontent over leaders fleeing while supporters face vulnerability, suggesting Hasina's return is necessary for her political relevance.