Thursday, 6 August 2026, 13:39
Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Wednesday she will return to her country from exile in India in December, despite a death sentence imposed over a 2024 crackdown. She spoke in an audio address to an event in New Delhi marking the second anniversary of the uprising that removed her from power.
"I know that they may put me in jail, or they may kill me, or anything may happen, but still I have to go back," Hasina said. "Fear cannot decide my duty to the people."
She also called for the ban on her Awami League party to be lifted and for political prisoners to be released. Hasina fled to India in 2024 after student-led protests forced her out. In 2025, a Bangladeshi court sentenced her to death for crimes against humanity. The United Nations reported that nearly 1,400 people were killed in the crackdown. Hasina denies any wrongdoing.
On the same day, Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum in Dhaka. The museum is housed in Hasina's former official residence. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who led the interim government after Hasina's ouster, joined the ceremony.
Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Hasina's archrival, won a landslide victory in February under an election overseen by Yunus. Hasina's Awami League was barred from participating.
The story is covered by California-based outlets including the Los Angeles Times and SFGate, reflecting interest among the state's South Asian communities. Political developments in Bangladesh can have ripple effects for diaspora families in California, but no local impact is expected from Hasina's announcement.
Hasina ruled Bangladesh for 15 years before the 2024 uprising. The mass protests began over civil service job quotas and escalated into a broader movement against her government. After she fled, Yunus's interim administration took over and later organized the February 2025 election that brought Rahman to power.
Hasina's planned return sets the stage for a high-stakes confrontation with the Bangladeshi government. Whether she follows through in December remains uncertain, but her statement has already drawn international attention.
