Ousted former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared that she will return to Bangladesh this year despite being sentenced to death in absentia, insisting that the verdict against her is politically motivated and has no legal legitimacy.
In an interview with Indian broadcaster NDTV, the 78-year-old leader said she would overcome “every obstacle and every conspiracy” to return home. It marked the first time Hasina had publicly given a timeline for her planned return since fleeing to India following the student-led uprising that toppled her government in August 2024.
“I want to say clearly: overcoming every obstacle and every conspiracy, I will return to my country this year,” Hasina said when asked whether the death sentence would deter her.
Last November, a court in Dhaka sentenced Hasina to death after finding her guilty of inciting violence, ordering killings and failing to prevent atrocities during the 2024 unrest. She rejected the ruling, describing it as “illegal, unconstitutional and politically motivated”, and accused Bangladesh’s judiciary of being used as a tool for political revenge against the leadership of her Awami League party.
Hasina also said she was not afraid of the death sentence, arguing that previous attempts to dismantle the Awami League had failed and would continue to fail.
According to the former prime minister, her planned return is not about reclaiming power for personal reasons but about restoring democracy, political rights, the rule of law and the principles of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War.
Defending the Awami League, Hasina said the party remained firmly rooted in Bangladesh despite a ban on its activities. The restrictions, introduced under the previous interim administration, remain in force under the government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, which took office following the February general election.
She urged the current administration to restore what she described as a genuine democratic environment by lifting the ban on the Awami League, withdrawing what she called politically motivated cases against party leaders, releasing political prisoners and allowing peaceful political activities to resume.
The Bangladeshi government has defended the legal proceedings, maintaining that the prosecution is part of efforts to ensure accountability for alleged crimes committed during the final months of Hasina’s administration.
Hasina’s latest remarks are expected to intensify political tensions in Bangladesh as the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of last year’s upheaval and an increasingly polarised political landscape.
