Exiled Bangladesh PM vows to return despite facing death sentence

Exiled Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to return to her country despite facing a death sentence for crimes against humanity related to a deadly crackdown on student protesters. The former leader, 78, fled to India in August 2024 by helicopter amid the student-led uprising that led to her government’s downfall. She has remained in India since then, even as Bangladesh authorities have sought her extradition. On Wednesday evening, she delivered an audio message marking the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted her. Originally scheduled to speak via videolink at an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia in New Delhi, she appeared only through an audio recording. Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and other speakers were present, but she did not appear on video. It was her first public appearance since she was forced to resign after two decades in power. In her message, Hasina called for the lifting of the ban on her Awami League party. “I will return to my people,” she stated. “They may try to implicate me with fabricated cases, but fear cannot decide my duty to the people, my life or beyond.” She promised to reveal the exact date of her return and other details once the appropriate moment arrives. The protest that led to her ousting began as a student movement opposing a government jobs quota. During the demonstrations, security forces opened fire, killing dozens, prompting widespread outrage. Hasina was later sentenced to death in 2025 for crimes against humanity over her handling of the crisis. She rejected the ruling as legally invalid, claiming it lacked proper judicial process. Bangladesh authorities have issued warnings against publicizing Hasina’s statements, citing a 2024 court order that prohibits the publication or broadcast of her speeches and remarks. In a statement on X, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed “outrage” at the media event in New Delhi, accusing her and her associates of launching “venomous vitriol” against the state and its people. The ministry noted that Bangladesh had repeatedly requested the Indian government to return Hasina under the 2013 Extradition Treaty between the two nations. However, these efforts have not yielded results. Meanwhile, the Indian government clarified that the event was organized by a private media entity and that it had “no involvement whatsoever” in it. A spokesperson for the Indian foreign ministry added that the government did not endorse any views expressed at the forum. Relations between Bangladesh and India have been tense since Hasina’s ouster, although recent signals suggest a potential thaw under the new Bangladeshi government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who came to power following February’s elections. Hasina’s aides have continued to assert that Dhaka’s attempts to suppress dissent cannot silence voices outside the country. Abu Obaidha Arin, one of her advisors, stated that the efforts to silence opposition cannot extinguish voices beyond national borders. Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, reiterated that the government had consistently raised concerns with India regarding Hasina and other Awami League leaders making political statements from Indian territory. The situation highlights the ongoing complexities of regional diplomacy and the challenges faced by exiled leaders. As Bangladesh seeks to restore stability and rebuild institutions, the presence of Hasina abroad continues to complicate domestic politics. Her return, if it occurs, could significantly impact the nation’s trajectory. For now, the focus remains on the legal proceedings and diplomatic tensions surrounding her case.