Hasina's Perilous Return
Exiled Hasina plans December return to Bangladesh, risking death sentence
Anonymous
Key Points
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The International Crimes Tribunal also sentenced former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death and ordered the confiscation of properties belonging to Hasina and Kamal.
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Hasina fled Bangladesh in August 2024 and took refuge in India after weeks of anti-government protests that were backed by Islamist elements.
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Bangladesh has repeatedly urged India to extradite Hasina, and her planned return could affect ties depending on how New Delhi handles the matter.
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The return could sharpen political divisions and influence Bangladesh's garment-export economy as the government seeks stability after two years of upheaval.
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Hasina's return timetable was publicly stated for December, marking the first time she has set a specific timeline for her return.
Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says she plans to return from exile in India around December and surrender before the courts, according to Reuters. Hasina has been living in India since August 2024, when she fled Bangladesh after weeks of deadly street protests forced her from power.
Hasina faces a death sentence handed down in absentia by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal. The charge: ordering a violent crackdown on a student-led uprising in 2024. She told Reuters she knows she may be "arrested or killed" when she lands, but feels she must go back anyway.
Hasina Sets December Deadline to Face Courts
This is the first time Hasina has given a specific month for her return. She says she will not go back alone. Senior leaders of her Awami League party plan to surrender alongside her, according to Kentucky.com. The Awami League has been banned in Bangladesh since her ouster.
Hasina said the move is meant to stop the "repression" of Awami League workers still inside Bangladesh. She framed the surrender as an act of defiance, not defeat. She has not publicly told any foreign government about her timetable, Modern Diplomacy reported.
Death Sentence and Trial Handed Down in November
Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Hasina to death in November 2024. The tribunal found her guilty of crimes against humanity for ordering the crackdown on the 2024 student protests. Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also sentenced to death in the same ruling, according to Head Topics.
Other officials received prison terms. The tribunal also ordered the seizure of properties belonging to both Hasina and Kamal. The crackdown on the student uprising killed hundreds of people before Hasina fled the country in August 2024.
India Caught Between Refuge and Extradition Pressure
India gave Hasina shelter when she fled in August 2024. Since then, Bangladesh's government has repeatedly asked New Delhi to hand her over. India has not agreed to extradite her, creating a diplomatic strain between the two neighbors, according to Yahoo News Malaysia.
A voluntary return by Hasina could ease some of that tension. It would remove pressure on India to act. But how Dhaka treats her on arrival will closely watched. Analysts say it will signal whether Bangladesh can handle opposition figures fairly after two years of upheaval.
Return Could Shake Bangladesh's Fragile Stability
Bangladesh is still recovering from the political chaos that toppled Hasina's government. The country's garment-export economy — one of the largest in the world — depends on stability to attract foreign buyers and investment. More political unrest could hurt that, according to Taylorville Daily News.
Hasina's return will test whether the current government treats her as a criminal or a political rival. Her Awami League still has deep roots across Bangladesh, despite its ban. A high-profile surrender in December could quickly reignite those divisions on the streets.
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