Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is preparing to return to her country in December, more than two years after fleeing to India following a massive student-led uprising that brought an end to her 15-year rule. However, her proposed return is likely to trigger fresh political tensions, as she faces a death sentence imposed by a Bangladeshi tribunal over the deadly crackdown on protesters in 2024.
Hasina, who has been living in India since August 2024, is understood to be serious about returning home despite the possibility of immediate arrest and execution. Her intentions have gained significance after she applied for a new Bangladeshi passport and national identity card through her legal representatives earlier this week. The application is being seen as a concrete step towards facilitating her return.
According to reports, a British lawyer representing Hasina wrote to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Monday, requesting that the documents be issued without delay. Her existing passport and national identity card were reportedly revoked by the Bangladeshi authorities following her removal from office. Her legal team has argued that she remains a Bangladeshi national and is entitled to the necessary travel documents.
Several senior leaders of her Awami League party, who are currently living in exile in India, have also indicated that Hasina is determined to return next month. A party leader based in Kolkata said the passport application reflected her genuine intention to go back to Bangladesh. He added that if the authorities declined to issue a passport, she could explore the option of obtaining a travel document to facilitate her journey.
Hasina had earlier announced her intention to return during a public interaction in August, maintaining that she was prepared to face whatever consequences awaited her in her homeland. In an interview with the Associated Press, she said she would rather die on the soil of Bangladesh among her own people than remain away from her country. She has also indicated that she is willing to surrender before a court and contest the legal proceedings against her.
The former prime minister fled Bangladesh in August 2024 as a student-led movement against her government escalated into widespread unrest. The protests, initially triggered by demands relating to government job quotas, developed into a broader movement against her administration. The violent response by security forces resulted in a large number of deaths. The United Nations estimated that nearly 1,400 people were killed during the crackdown.
In November 2025, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal found Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity in connection with the suppression of the uprising and sentenced her to death in absentia. She has rejected the verdict, questioned the tribunal’s legitimacy and denied the allegations against her.
The legal consequences of her return remain a major concern. Bangladesh’s chief prosecutor, Aminul Islam, has maintained that there is no legal basis for issuing a fresh passport to Hasina, describing her as a convicted fugitive. He has also stated that the deadline for challenging the death sentence has expired and that she would have to face the execution of the verdict if she returned.
The government in Dhaka has also intensified its efforts to secure her extradition from India. Bangladesh has repeatedly approached New Delhi, seeking her handover under the extradition treaty between the two countries. However, India has so far refrained from acting on the requests, a development that has further strained relations between the neighbouring countries.
Bangladesh’s position on her return has hardened in recent days. The government has indicated that Hasina cannot simply travel back on her own and would have to be brought through an acceptable arrangement under the existing extradition framework. This has created uncertainty over whether her proposed December return can actually take place.
Meanwhile, the Awami League, which was once the country’s largest political party, continues to face serious restrictions. Its political activities remain banned, while thousands of its members and supporters have either been arrested or forced into hiding or exile. Several senior party leaders are currently based in India, particularly in Kolkata, where they continue to hold meetings and remain in contact with Hasina.
The former prime minister’s proposed return has also raised questions about the political future of the Awami League. Political observers believe her announcement could be an attempt to revive the party’s organisational network and regain the support of its grassroots workers at a time when it is facing severe political isolation.
Hasina’s return could pose a challenge to the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, which came to power following the February 2026 general election. The new administration is already facing economic pressures, including inflation and protests that have affected the country’s garment manufacturing sector. The political mobilisation of Awami League supporters could add to the government’s challenges.
Some analysts believe Hasina’s announcement may also be aimed at keeping her politically relevant and maintaining her control over the party while its senior leadership remains scattered across different countries. However, her supporters maintain that she is determined to return and continue her political struggle despite the legal risks.
The former leader’s next move is therefore likely to have implications beyond her personal legal battle, potentially affecting Bangladesh’s domestic political stability as well as its already strained relationship with India.
