Photo: Collected
Ousted PM Sheikh Hasina Vows to Return to Bangladesh This Year, Dismisses Death Sentence
Political Desk | GenZ Frontier | June 29, 2026
Ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has boldly declared her intention to return to Bangladesh this year, outright rejecting a death sentence handed down to her in absentia. She denounced the ruling as “illegal, unconstitutional, and politically motivated.”
The 78-year-old leader, who has been living in exile in India since a massive student-led mass uprising ousted her government in August 2024, made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Indian broadcaster NDTV. Despite the severe legal and political risks awaiting her, Hasina stated she remains undeterred and is prepared to overcome all obstacles to return to her homeland.
Defying the Death Sentence
During the interview, Hasina provided a timeline for her highly anticipated return for the first time since her ouster.
“I want to say clearly: overcoming every obstacle and every conspiracy, I will return to my country this year,” Hasina told NDTV when pressed about the risks of her impending return.
Last November, a special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced the former premier to death in absentia. She was convicted of inciting violence, ordering killings, and failing to prevent mass atrocities during the deadly 2024 unrest that ultimately toppled her 15-year administration.
Dismissing the verdict, Hasina accused the nation’s judiciary of being weaponized against her. “I do not fear death,” she remarked, alleging that the legal proceedings are merely “an instrument of political revenge” designed to permanently eliminate the leadership of her Awami League party. She added that historical attempts to dismantle her party have consistently failed and predicted that current efforts would suffer the same fate.
The Awami League and the Current Government
Hasina maintained that her planned return is not fueled by a desire for personal power, but rather by a broader mission to restore political rights, constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and the fundamental spirit of the 1971 Liberation War.
She fiercely defended the Awami League, which is currently operating under a nationwide ban on its political activities. The restrictions were initially imposed by the interim administration that took over following her departure and have remained in place under the newly elected government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who took office following the February 2026 general elections.
- Deep Roots: “The Awami League is not a paper organisation but a political force rooted in the soil of Bengal, in the people of Bengal, in the history of Bengal and in the identity of the Bengali nation,” Hasina asserted.
- Demands for Normalcy: She urged Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s administration to restore a proper democratic environment. Her demands included lifting the ban on the Awami League, withdrawing what she described as fabricated cases against party leaders, releasing political prisoners, and allowing peaceful political activities to resume.
Read More: PM Tarique Rahman Returns Home After Highly Successful Maiden Overseas Visit
Government Stance on Accountability
In contrast to Hasina's claims of political persecution, the current government in Dhaka has strongly defended the ongoing legal proceedings. Authorities maintain that the trials and subsequent verdicts are essential steps toward ensuring justice and accountability for the severe human rights violations and alleged crimes committed during the violent final months of Hasina's administration.
The government has consistently reiterated that the judicial processes are independent and based on substantial evidence gathered from the 2024 unrest.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What did Sheikh Hasina announce during her NDTV interview? Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced her intention to return to Bangladesh in 2026, stating she will overcome all obstacles despite facing a death sentence.
2. Why was Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death? In November 2025, a Dhaka court sentenced her to death in absentia for inciting, ordering killings, and failing to prevent atrocities during the student-led uprising in August 2024.
3. What is the current status of the Awami League in Bangladesh? The Awami League's political activities are currently banned in Bangladesh. The ban was imposed by the previous interim administration and remains in effect under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's government.
4. How does the current government view the legal actions against Hasina? The current government defends the legal proceedings, stating they are strictly independent and necessary to ensure justice and accountability for the crimes committed during the 2024 unrest.
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