Ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina plans to return in December, admits she could be 'killed, arrested, or tortured'

Sheikh Hasina says she plans to return to Bangladesh in December despite fears of arrest, torture or death. Living in India since her ouster in August 2024, she thanked India for sheltering her. She faces a death sentence in Bangladesh, which has sought her extradition.

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country in August 2024 and has been in India since, said at a virtual conference on Monday that she is ready to return to her country despite the grave risks involved.

She said she had been targeted in her country in the past but remained undeterred, India Today reported. She continued, "Now I have decided...Yes, I know. If I go back, the moment I land, they can kill me, or they can arrest me and torture me."

The ousted Bangladesh PM made the remarks while virtually attending an event hosted by the Center for US-Bangladesh Relations in Washington, DC. Asked when she would return, Hasina told India Today, "I will go back to Bangladesh in December," and added, "it’s my responsibility to go."

Her remarks come months after she first announced her intention to return to Dhaka on her own by December. However, she did not specify an exact date at Monday’s event.

Hasina announces plan to return to Bangladesh

At her first virtual press conference held in Delhi on the second anniversary of her ouster, she similarly made the case for her return, saying, "Whatever fate awaits me, I will return to my people. I cannot stay away while my beloved countrymen are suffering."

She acknowledged that she could be detained or imprisoned upon returning, having been sentenced to death by a Bangladeshi court, but noted that "fear cannot decide my duty to the people."

Hasina said returning home and securing the Awami League’s involvement in democratic politics were “not about power”, but about bringing back development, secularism and stability.

In separate interviews with Reuters and AFP in July, she acknowledged the risks of returning to Bangladesh. She said she and senior Awami League members planned to return in December and surrender before the courts. She told Reuters, "They may arrest me on my return; they may even kill me,” and added, "Still, I have to go. My party leaders and workers are being subjected to tremendous repression. If death comes, I want it to come on my own soil, where my parents are buried and where their blood was shed."

Hasina thanks India

Hasina, who fled Bangladesh after student-led protests brought down her Awami League government, has been living in self-exile in India. Addressing the US-based press conference, she thanked the Indian government for sheltering her.

She said, “I was not prepared to leave my country, but somehow I reached here. I thank the Indian government and the people here." Hasina further alleged that while more than 600 cases had been filed against her, the interim government in Dhaka had granted immunity to those actually responsible for the crimes.

Hasina faces death sentence in Bangladesh

Hasina was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death in her absence by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal in November 2025. The case concerned the crackdown on student-led protests in 2024. She denies the charges and maintains that the proceedings were politically motivated.

Both the former interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus and the Rahman government have asked India to extradite her. New Delhi has said it is reviewing the request through its judicial and internal legal procedures.

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Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.