DHAKA — Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she plans to return to Bangladesh in December with senior members of her Awami League party and appear before the court. Hasina, who left Bangladesh for India in 2024 following mass protests that ended her more than two decades in power, told Reuters by phone that she was willing to face the legal process despite the risks of arrest or even death. “I may be arrested or even killed after my return, but despite all the risks, I must go back to my country,” she said. Hasina, who was sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal in Bangladesh, rejected the charges against her and said the trial would test how the current government treats its main political rival. Her Awami League party has been banned, and several senior party figures are facing legal cases. Bangladesh’s government has repeatedly asked India to extradite Hasina, while New Delhi has said it is considering the request. Hasina’s return could deepen political divisions in Bangladesh, which has been trying to restore stability after months of unrest. She has previously faced accusations of suppressing opposition, restricting political freedoms and weakening democratic institutions — allegations she denies.
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