Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh who was ousted following a student-led uprising in August 2024, has vowed to return to her country within the year. The 78-year-old leader, currently in exile in India, dismissed a death sentence issued against her in absentia as politically motivated and unjust.
In an interview with an Indian broadcaster, Hasina expressed her determination to overcome all obstacles and conspiracies aimed at preventing her return. She emphasized that she does not fear death and remains committed to her mission of restoring political rights, democracy, the rule of law, and the legacy of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War.
In November, a Dhaka court sentenced Hasina to death after convicting her of inciting and ordering killings, as well as failing to prevent atrocities during the unrest that led to her removal from office. Hasina rejected the verdict outright, accusing the judiciary of acting as a tool for political revenge designed to dismantle her Awami League party’s leadership.
She defended the Awami League as a deeply rooted political force tied to the history and identity of Bengal and its people, not merely a paper organization. The party remains banned under the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who took office following elections in February.
Hasina called on the authorities to establish a genuine democratic environment by lifting the ban on the Awami League, dropping what she described as fabricated charges against its leaders, releasing political prisoners, and allowing peaceful political activities. Meanwhile, the government insists that the legal actions against Hasina and her party are necessary to hold them accountable for alleged crimes committed during the final months of her administration.
