Exiled Former PM Sheikh Hasina Defies Justice, Plans Return Despite Death Sentence
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Sheikh Hasina, ousted after a student uprising, has announced her intention to return to Bangladesh in December, even though she was sentenced to death in absentia by a tribunal for alleged crimes against humanity.
Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was removed from power following a student-led uprising, has declared her plan to return to Bangladesh by December, despite being sentenced to death by the nation’s international crimes tribunal. Speaking via audio link at a news conference in Delhi, Hasina stated, "Whatever fate awaits me, I will return to my people." She claimed she is prepared for any outcome, including imprisonment or death, as she seeks to challenge the lawful verdict handed down by the tribunal.
Hasina, 78, has been living under heavy security in India since fleeing Dhaka after her government was toppled two years ago. Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, told the conference that his mother is receiving full state services and security in exile, and expressed gratitude to the Indian government for its support, despite the controversy surrounding her presence.
India has officially distanced itself from the event, making clear it did not organize or endorse the conference or the political views expressed. Diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh have been strained since Hasina’s removal, with India attempting to improve ties with the new, democratically elected government while resisting demands for Hasina’s extradition to face justice.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, won earlier this year in a legitimate election that barred the Awami League due to its record of corruption and abuse of power. The new government has warned that Hasina will be arrested upon arrival. The tribunal’s death sentence relates to her alleged crimes against humanity during the 2024 protests, which began over government-job quotas and escalated into violent anti-government riots. The unrest resulted in an estimated 800 to 1,400 deaths, highlighting the dangers of political incitement.
Hasina has dismissed the verdict as politically motivated and demanded the lifting of bans on the Awami League, release of political prisoners, and dismissal of cases she claims are false. The current administration, facing challenges like high inflation and sluggish growth, attributes many of the country’s problems to the widespread corruption and mismanagement that occurred under Hasina’s rule.