Sheikh Hasina has said she will return from India to Bangladesh in December this year and surrender before a court. She said she is not afraid of imprisonment or death and wants to return to her country's soil to face the judicial process. She also claimed that several senior leaders of the Awami League would return to Bangladesh with her to face legal proceedings.
In an interview with an international news agency, Sheikh Hasina said she has no fear of going to jail. She said she has been arrested several times during her political career and is prepared to face the law. Although she did not disclose the exact date of her return, she said she intends to return to Bangladesh in December.
Sheikh Hasina said she has held no discussions with the Bangladesh government regarding her planned return. According to her, issues such as democracy, free elections, political rights and justice should not be the subject of confidential or behind-the-scenes negotiations. She said such matters should be decided only through a public and constitutional process.
The former prime minister claimed that the Bangladesh government has been repeatedly writing to India seeking her extradition. She said there would be no need to bring her back because she would return to her country voluntarily and appear before the court. However, neither the Bangladesh government nor the Indian government has issued an official response to this claim.
Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh in 2024 following an anti-government student movement and came to India. She has been accused in cases related to violence and alleged human rights violations during the student movement. Reports also stated that she was sentenced to death in absentia in these cases. Sheikh Hasina has consistently denied all the allegations, saying the truth will emerge if she receives a fair trial.
During the interview, Sheikh Hasina said that any government serving for a long period may make mistakes. She said that if her government made any mistakes, the final judgment should rest with the people. According to her, the people are the ultimate decision-makers in a democratic system and public trust is the primary basis of political accountability.
According to international reports, a large number of people were killed during the 2024 student movement against the government jobs reservation policy. A United Nations report stated that about 1,400 people were killed during the protests. Multiple legal cases against Sheikh Hasina were registered based on these incidents. She rejected the allegations and said the facts would become clear after a full hearing in court.
A recent anti-Sheikh Hasina rally in the Savar area near Dhaka was disrupted by an explosion in which three people were injured. Several prominent leaders associated with the student movement and senior members of the National Citizen Party (NCP) were present on the stage at the time. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not reached any final conclusion on the cause of the explosion.
The Bangladesh government has said it is continuing efforts to bring Sheikh Hasina back to the country through the legal process. A senior government minister recently said the extradition process is being pursued in accordance with international law and bilateral legal provisions. India has not made any detailed public comment on the matter.
Analysts believe that if Sheikh Hasina returns to Bangladesh in December, it could have a broad impact on the country's politics. Her return could trigger fresh discussion on the Awami League's political activities, the judicial process and upcoming political developments. However, the future situation will depend on court proceedings, government decisions and political circumstances.
