New delhi: Ousted former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced her intention to return to Bangladesh from her exile in India come December. Facing a death sentence in Bangladesh due to a violent crackdown on student-led protests in 2024, Hasina made her statement at a media event in New Delhi hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia. This event marked the second anniversary of the uprising that led to her removal from power and subsequently drove her into exile. It was the first occasion she addressed the media since fleeing the country, delivering an audio message from behind a blank screen instead of appearing on video.
According to Deutsche Welle, the reasons for Hasina's decision to remain unseen during the event are unclear, especially since other Awami League leaders and her son had appeared on camera earlier. Despite the potential risks upon her return, including imprisonment or assassination, Hasina affirmed her commitment to her country, stating, "Fear cannot decide my duty to the people." She promised to disclose the exact details of her return at a later date.
Hasina's departure to India in 2024 followed a series of student-led protests which resulted in the end of her 20-year tenure as prime minister, spread across two terms. A Bangladeshi court convicted her in absentia in 2025 for crimes against humanity related to the 2024 crackdown, which the United Nations reported resulted in approximately 1,400 deaths. Hasina has consistently denied the charges, labeling them as politically motivated.
The diplomatic relationship between Bangladesh and India has been tense since Hasina's exile. Dhaka has been persistent in its extradition requests, while India maintains that it is reviewing these requests. Bangladesh's foreign ministry condemned the recent event in New Delhi, regarding it as an affront to national sovereignty and expressing outrage at Hasina's public address to the media. The current government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, had previously warned local media against broadcasting Hasina's statements, citing a 2024 court order. Consequently, her remarks were not covered by Bangladeshi media but circulated widely on social media.
During her address, Hasina urged the government to lift the ban on her party and release political prisoners, claiming that the initial protests over public job quotas transformed into an orchestrated effort to dismantle her government. She also criticized the current state of Bangladesh's economy, noting decreased growth, reduced investments, and a significant rise in unemployment since her departure.
As Hasina's audio message was delivered, protesters in Dhaka burned an effigy of her, coinciding with the second anniversary of her escape to India. Meanwhile, Bangladesh inaugurated a museum dedicated to the 2024 uprising. The July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum, located in Hasina's former official residence in Dhaka, features various displays and documents related to the events and alleged abuses during her administration. The museum's inauguration was attended by interim government leader Muhammad Yunus and Prime Minister Rahman.
Despite recent indications of potential rapprochement between Bangladesh and India, Bangladesh's foreign ministry warned that facilitating Hasina's media engagement could negatively impact bilateral relations.