Despite death sentence, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh plans to return home
Sheikh Hasina, ousted from power following mass protests and sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, announced her intention to return to Bangladesh despite the risk of arrest or death. A museum commemorating the uprising that led to her downfall has been inaugurated in Dhaka.
Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has announced her intention to return to the country in December, despite having been sentenced to death and facing a high probability of arrest upon arrival. In a recorded speech delivered at an event in New Delhi marking the second anniversary of the uprising that led to her government's ouster, Hasina stated that she views her return as a duty to the citizens of Bangladesh, despite her conviction for crimes against humanity.
Hasina fled to India in 2024 after student-led protests forced her from power. She has been living in exile in the neighboring country ever since. In 2025, a court in Bangladesh sentenced her to death, ruling that she had ordered the violent suppression of the protests. According to a UN report, nearly 1,400 people were killed during the crackdown. Hasina denies all allegations against her. Bangladesh has repeatedly requested India to extradite Hasina, but New Delhi has so far refused to comply with these requests.
"I know they might imprison me, or kill me, or anything else might happen - but I must return. Fear cannot dictate my duty to the people," she said.
In her speech, Hasina also called for the lifting of the ban imposed on her party, the Awami League, and for the release of political prisoners.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman, has inaugurated a memorial museum dedicated to the 2024 uprising. The museum is housed in Hasina's former official residence in the capital, Dhaka. The initiative was launched during the transitional government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who took office shortly after Hasina's ouster.
The museum features audio and visual documentation of the protests, personal belongings of the deceased, newspaper clippings from that period, and records documenting allegations of political repression during Hasina's 15 years in power.
Tarique Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and a long-time political rival of Hasina, was elected to the position in February during elections held under the supervision of the transitional government. Hasina's party was barred from participating in the elections.
