Bangladesh's ousted leader Sheikh Hasina has vowed to return in December from self-imposed exile in India, where she has been hiding since fleeing the uprising that toppled her government, even though she faces death sentence.
The 79-year-old former prime minister faces death for crimes against humanity over deadly crackdown on 2024 protests that ended her 15-year rule. In November 2025, a Dhaka court sentenced her in absentia to death. UN estimates up to 1,400 killed in crackdown.
Hasina fled Bangladesh on August 5, 2024 by helicopter as thousands stormed her palace after student-led uprising. She flew to longtime ally India and has remained hidden, only occasionally addressing press by telephone.
On November 9, her lawyers at London-based Matrix Chambers wrote to Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi requesting new passport and National Identity Card, saying interim government had revoked old ones. Letter sought papers expeditiously citing Bangladeshi nationality and international human rights instruments.
Dhaka swiftly rejected request. Bangladesh does not give passports to terrorists who kill thousands and flee, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said. Government challenged her to seek extradition from India if genuinely determined to return. Foreign ministry has sought extradition, India says request under review.
Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam who secured death sentence said Tuesday: Sheikh Hasina has no option but to face execution of verdict. Statutory appeal period has expired and no appeal can now be filed. As soon as she enters Bangladesh she will be arrested.
Hasina told AFP and Reuters she is fully aware she faces hanging but fear cannot decide her duty to people. If death comes, I want it to come on my own soil, where my parents are buried, she said in July, adding she wants to return voluntarily and surrender. She called trial jurisprudential joke. She is not under pressure from India to return, she said.
Her Awami League party, banned after fall and kept from February general election that brought Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, son of rival Khaleda Zia, to power, said Hasina will return with documents or without. People regularly cross long porous border illegally.
Analysis:
Hasina's December pledge is less travel plan than political gambit. By requesting passport she forces Dhaka to refuse citizen papers, letting her claim victimhood, while signalling to Awami League cadres that leader hasn't quit. At 79 facing gallows, actual return is near suicidal unless she bets on martyrdom optics or secret deal. For Rahman government, dilemma is acute, arresting her risks making her martyr and angering India, letting her roam risks street clashes with students who toppled her. India holds leverage, keeping her quiet but not handing her over quickly, using her as card in bilateral reset.
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