Sheikh Hasina to Return to Bangladesh in December 2026 Despite Arrest, Death Threats

New Delhi: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced that she plans to return to Bangladesh around December 2026, despite saying she could be arrested or even killed upon her arrival. The former Awami League leader, who has been living in India since leaving Bangladesh in 2024, said she intends to voluntarily surrender before the country’s courts.

This marks the first time since her departure from Bangladesh that Hasina has publicly shared a tentative timeline for returning home.

Sheikh Hasina Says She Is Ready to Face the Courts

Speaking in an interview with Reuters, the 78-year-old leader said she has accepted the risks involved in returning.

“They may arrest me on my return, they may even kill me. Still, I have to go,” Hasina said.

She added that she wants to die on the soil where her parents are buried if such a situation arises.

Hasina also revealed that several senior Awami League leaders currently living in exile are expected to return with her and surrender before the courts together.

Bangladesh Sought Her Extradition

According to Hasina, Bangladesh has repeatedly sent requests to India seeking her extradition. However, she stressed that she would not wait for any forced action.

“I will go myself,” she said, adding that she has not held discussions with the current Bangladesh government or any foreign country regarding her return.

She maintained that democracy, voting rights and justice cannot be decided through secret negotiations.

Why Sheikh Hasina Left Bangladesh

Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh in August 2024 after a massive student-led uprising ended her long tenure in power.

Later, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia over allegations linked to the deadly crackdown on anti-government protests in 2024. Hasina has consistently denied all allegations against her.

The tribunal also sentenced former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death, while former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun received a five-year prison sentence.

‘I Believe in Justice‘

Despite the verdict, Hasina said she believes the legal process will ultimately expose what she described as an unfair trial.

She said she is prepared to face imprisonment and reminded supporters that she has been jailed several times during her political career before eventually returning to power.

Hasina also claimed that many Awami League leaders and workers are facing legal cases, arrests and intimidation, forcing many into hiding.

Awami League Preparing for the Future

Hasina said she has been conducting online meetings covering 125 of Bangladesh’s 300 parliamentary constituencies as part of efforts to reorganize the Awami League.

She argued that even if she is personally barred from contesting elections, the Awami League should not be prevented from participating in the democratic process.

“If we have done badly, let the people decide,” she said.

What Happens Next?

Although Sheikh Hasina has indicated that she plans to return around December 2026, she has not announced an exact date or identified the court where she intends to surrender.

Her proposed return is expected to become one of the most closely watched political developments in Bangladesh, as it could have significant implications for the country’s political landscape and the future of the Awami League.