Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for the ban on her Awami League party to be lifted and reaffirmed her plan to return to Bangladesh in December, despite facing the possibility of imprisonment or death.
Speaking during a media event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in New Delhi on Wednesday, Hasina said she remained determined to return to her country.
“I will return to my people,” she said, adding that she would announce the exact date of her return when the time was right.
“I know they may put me in jail or they may kill me. Anything may happen, but I still have to go back,” she said.
The event marked Hasina’s first media appearance since she fled Bangladesh following her removal from office in 2024.
Although she had been expected to appear via video link, Hasina delivered only an audio message while a blank screen was displayed. No explanation was given for the decision.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry later condemned the event, describing it as “an affront to the sovereignty of Bangladesh” and expressing outrage over India allowing Hasina to address the media.
The 78-year-old former leader previously told Reuters that she intended to return to Bangladesh by the end of the year and surrender to authorities.
Hasina fled Dhaka after nationwide protests ended her two-decade rule as prime minister.
In November 2025, Bangladesh’s war crimes tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia for allegedly ordering a deadly crackdown on student-led protests.
She has consistently denied the allegations, insisting the charges and verdict are politically motivated and fabricated.
The government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, which took office following the February general election, warned local media not to publish or broadcast Hasina’s statements, citing a 2024 court order banning the dissemination of her speeches.
As a result, the event received no coverage from mainstream media in Bangladesh, although recordings and links circulated widely on social media.
While Hasina addressed supporters from India, protesters in Dhaka burned an effigy of the former prime minister.
During her speech, Hasina claimed the anti-government demonstrations had evolved from protests over public sector job quotas into an organised campaign designed to remove her government through violence and propaganda.
She also alleged that Bangladesh’s economy has deteriorated since her removal from office, claiming economic growth has slowed, investment has declined, unemployment has risen sharply and many of the country’s previous economic gains have been reversed.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has declared August 5 a public holiday to honour those killed during the student-led uprising.
Dhaka has repeatedly requested Hasina’s extradition from India, while New Delhi has confirmed that the request is under review.
Relations between Bangladesh and India have remained strained since Hasina’s departure, although both governments have recently indicated a willingness to improve bilateral ties. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry warned that allowing Hasina to publicly address the media could further complicate relations between the two countries.
