Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that she plans to return to Bangladesh from India in December and surrender before the country's authorities, despite expressing concerns that her life could be at risk.
In an interview with Reuters, Hasina said she and senior leaders of the Awami League intend to return to Bangladesh and face the legal proceedings against them. She stated that she was prepared for the possibility of arrest or even death.
"They might kill me," Hasina said, adding that she would nevertheless return to her home country and surrender.
Hasina has been living in India since August 5, 2024, after leaving Bangladesh following weeks of anti-government protests that turned violent. She has maintained that she departed on the advice of the country's military leadership due to concerns over her safety.
In November 2025, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Hasina to death in absentia over allegations related to the government's crackdown on the 2024 student-led protests. She has denied all charges against her, describing the cases as politically motivated.
Speaking to Reuters, Hasina said she believed the judicial process would ultimately expose what she called the weakness of the cases filed against her.
"I believe in justice, and I feel that once proceedings start, it will be clear to the people how farcical the court is," she said.
She did not specify the exact date of her return or identify the court before which she intends to surrender.
Earlier this year, Bangladesh's Police Bureau of Investigation recommended dropping an attempted murder case against Hasina and 112 others after investigators reportedly found that the alleged victim could not be traced and that the complaint contained fabricated details. The development was cited by the Awami League as evidence supporting its claim that some cases filed against its leaders were politically motivated.
India has confirmed that it is examining Bangladesh's request seeking Hasina's extradition. In April, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the request was being reviewed through ongoing legal and judicial processes while India continued to engage constructively with the government in Dhaka.
Hasina also said she has been holding online meetings covering 125 of Bangladesh's 300 parliamentary constituencies as part of efforts to reorganise the Awami League, which has been banned by the country's interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.
Reflecting on her years in office, Hasina acknowledged that mistakes may have occurred during her tenure but said it was for the people of Bangladesh to judge her government's performance.
"No government is above error," she said. "The right to judge the good and bad, the right and wrong of a government belongs to the people."
The legal proceedings against Hasina and the broader political developments in Bangladesh continue to attract significant domestic and international attention. Her proposed return later this year is expected to be closely watched by authorities, political observers and supporters alike.
Sources: India Today
