Will Seek to Revive Awami League Upon Returning to Bangladesh, Demands Legal Safeguards! Hasina Signals Return Home Once Again

Recalling the death sentence handed to her by a Bangladeshi tribunal in November 2025, Hasina said, “I am prepared to face any legal process. I am even prepared to go to prison.”
​Staff Reporter: Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has stated to a pan-Indian media outlet that she will return to Bangladesh by December this year. A Bangladeshi court has sentenced her to death, a verdict Hasina alleges is “politically motivated.” She also declared that she would rebuild the Awami League upon her return, demanding “legal safeguards.”
​The former Bangladeshi prime minister told NDTV, “I am determined to return to Bangladesh by December 2026. I believe I have the right to return to my country. No law there can stop me.” She added, “Today, I declare that I want to return to my nation, to my people. It is no longer a question of whether I will return. The only question is how to return in a way that serves the interests of the country’s people.” However, Hasina declined to comment on whether she has been in touch with authorities in Bangladesh or India regarding this matter.
​Referring to the death penalty handed down to her by a Bangladeshi tribunal in November 2025, Hasina said, “I am prepared to face any legal process. I am even prepared to go to prison. If that is the price to pay to serve the people of Bangladesh, I am willing to pay it.” However, she asserted that the death sentence was issued to serve “political interests.” She labeled the interim government formed after her departure “unconstitutional,” calling the trial a “farce.” Expressing hope that the Bangladeshi judiciary will hear her case transparently, she also demanded “legal safeguards” during the judicial proceedings.
​The Awami League has lost the right to contest elections in Bangladesh. Even so, Hasina stated she is taking steps to rebuild the party’s organization, pointing out that this very party led Bangladesh to independence. Asserting that the party will see a resurgence with her at the helm, she said, “Our goal is to restore a democratic government in Bangladesh. To protect the rights and dignity of every Bangladeshi.”
​Hasina also claimed that national security was a priority during her tenure, describing the threats now posed by hardline extremists as “deeply concerning.” In her words, “The threats posed by terrorists and extremists are grave. They should not be downplayed.” She emphasized that this is an issue for the wider region, stating, “Extremist networks and ideologies do not remain confined to one nation; they spill across borders. Isolating Bangladesh from its South Asian neighbors is neither sound nor realistic.”
​After fleeing the country in 2024 to seek refuge in India, Hasina addressed her first press conference from New Delhi last August. She claimed then that her intent in returning to Bangladesh was not to reclaim power, but to set her country on the “right track.” While fears persist that she could face an attempt on her life if she returns, the Awami League leader remains undeterred. The issue has previously triggered diplomatic friction between New Delhi and Dhaka, and Hasina has now reiterated her resolve to return home in this latest media interview.