The former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced her intention to return to Bangladesh from exile in India this December. Despite facing a death sentence, Hasina expressed her commitment to her people during an audio address at an event in New Delhi. The event marked the second anniversary of the uprising that led to her government’s downfall.
Hasina has been convicted in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity related to a crackdown on protesters in 2024. She insists on her innocence, stating her duty requires her return, regardless of personal risks. Hasina stated, “Fear cannot decide my duty to the people.”
Following Hasina’s speech, the Bangladeshi government expressed outrage, criticizing her engagement with the media in India. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement, asserting that Hasina’s interaction on Indian soil insulted Bangladesh’s sovereignty and dishonored the martyrs of the uprising. They highlighted that the event was detrimental to the diplomatic relationship between Bangladesh and India.
In 2024, after student-led protests, Hasina fled to India, where she continues to reside. By 2025, a Bangladeshi court sentenced her to death, holding her responsible for the deaths of nearly 1,400 people, as reported by the United Nations. India has yet to accede to Bangladesh’s repeated extradition requests.
Alongside her announcement, Hasina called for the release of political prisoners and the lifting of the ban on the Awami League party. Her political rival, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, inaugurated a memorial museum in Dhaka, dedicated to the 2024 uprising. The museum is situated in Hasina’s former residence and offers audio-visual exhibits on the uprising, personal belongings of those who lost their lives, and documentation of political repression during Hasina’s rule.
The interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, established the museum after Hasina’s removal. Rahman, now Prime Minister, gained office with a decisive victory in an election overseen by Yunus’ interim administration, excluding Hasina’s Awami League from participation.
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