Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has publicly vowed to return to the country "this year," marking a significant and unexpected turn in the nation’s political landscape. Hasina, who has been living in exile in India since August 2024, made these remarks during an interview with the Indian broadcaster NDTV, published on Sunday (June 28, 2026).
Hasina, 78, fled Bangladesh following a student-led uprising that brought an end to her 15-year tenure as Prime Minister. Since her departure, she has largely remained out of the public eye. However, in this latest interview, she remained defiant regarding the death penalty handed down to her by a Dhaka court last November.
Many conspiracies have been hatched against me. But breaking through every web of conspiracy... I was elected prime minister five times by the people's vote and worked for the country's unprecedented development," Hasina stated. She further dismissed the court verdict—which found her guilty of incitement, ordering killings, and failing to prevent atrocities—as an "illegal, unconstitutional, and politically motivated process.
While the current government of Bangladesh, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman following his landslide victory in February, has been actively seeking her extradition, the situation remains complex. The activities of Hasina’s former party, the Awami League, have been outlawed in the country, adding another layer of tension to the ongoing diplomatic discussions between Dhaka and New Delhi.
Despite the grave legal charges awaiting her, Hasina maintains that she is not afraid of the verdict and remains committed to returning to Bangladesh before the end of the year.
Source: AFP – Agencies
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