Former Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina plans return despite death sentence

Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, has announced plans to return to her country in December despite facing a death sentence, Al Jazeera English reported. She has been living in India since fleeing Bangladesh after large-scale protests in 2024.

The International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced Hasina to death in absentia in November 2025 for crimes against humanity related to the 2024 uprising, according to Al Jazeera English. The tribunal found her guilty of instigating violence and ordering lethal force against protesters.

Hasina has called the trial politically motivated and has denied the charges, but the victims and families affected by the uprising continue to seek justice. Bangladesh has requested her extradition from India, which has refused to hand her over.

Despite a request for a new passport being denied by the Bangladeshi government, Hasina insists on returning to Bangladesh, stating she would rather die in her country than remain in exile, Al Jazeera English reported. Experts on South Asian relations have been discussing the implications of her possible return for Bangladesh's political landscape.