NEW DELHI: Rep. Sheikh Hasina, exiled Bangladeshi Prime Minister facing a death sentence in absentia for ordering a crackdown on a 2024 student-led uprising, confirmed with Reuters plans to return from refuge in India with senior party officials to voluntarily present themselves in court.
The Awami League leader stated her delegation aims to return to Bangladesh, the nation they fled after two decades in power following widespread protests in 2024, to address charges related to suppressing dissent during her tenure. “They may arrest me on return, they may even kill me,” Hasina, 78, said during a 90-minute interview spanning Thursday and Friday. “But I have to return. My party workers deserve justice, and I want my final moments to be on my ancestral soil.”
Political Implications & international dynamics
Hasina’s arrest in November 2024 by Bangladesh’s war-crimes tribunal in her absence triggered a diplomatic spat with India, which granted her asylum. Dhaka has repeatedly demanded her extradition, though Delhi has maintained a policy of non-committal neutrality since her government’s overthrow.
“We’ve received multiple letters from Bangladesh requesting my repatriation,” Hasina told Reuters. “This is my choice.” The government of Prime Minister Rehana Ahmed declined to comment, while India’s foreign ministry avoided direct engagement.
Domestic Context: Crackdown & Accountability
Hasina’s departure followed protests against her administration’s alleged voter suppression and enforced disappearances, which killed at least 1,400 people per a UN inquiry. The former PM dismissed charges as “farce,” arguing the court lacks legitimacy without her participation.
“All Awami League leaders targeted remain in hiding. My surrender signals an invitation to join me,” she emphasized. Kamal, a former minister in her Cabinet, faces identical charges.
Legacy & Reorganization
Hasina, the daughter of Bangladeshi independence hero Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, defended her governance in a career spanning nearly four decades. “My administration elevated our economy, yet no government is immune to error,” she said, referencing her party’s economic reforms that drove Bangladesh into South Asia’s largest textile exporter.
Despite exile, she has restructured the Awami League via online constituency meetings, asserting its right to political participation even amid legal bans. “Let voters decide our fate, not secret tribunals,” she concluded.
The Awami League remains officially banned in Bangladesh, complicating any electoral return even if Hasina evades imprisonment.
Authorities:: “This is the first explicit timeline set for Hasina’s return. Predictable tolerance of political opponents may challenge stability efforts,” analyzed political observer Rajesh Kumar.
©2023 Reuters Limited. Information Library component: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
