Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she has no immediate plans to return to Bangladesh, though she “would love to go home” if legitimate governance and rule of law were restored.
Hasina, who has been residing in New Delhi since fleeing Bangladesh with her sister Sheikh Rehana on August 5, 2024, told Reuters that she lives freely in India but remains cautious due to her family’s violent political past.
“I would of course love to go home, so long as the government there was legitimate, the constitution was being upheld, and law and order genuinely prevailed,” Hasina said.
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The 78-year-old leader emphasized that she would not return under any administration formed without the participation of her party, the Awami League, and intends to remain in India for now.
Spotted in Delhi Amid Exile
Hasina was recently seen strolling through Delhi’s Lodhi Garden, accompanied by her security staff. Passersby reportedly recognized and greeted her.
She was ousted following widespread anti-government protests that began over a contentious quota system for government jobs and later escalated into a mass movement against the Awami League government. The violent crackdown that followed reportedly left around 1,400 people dead.
Facing Charges in International Crimes Tribunal
The International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh has completed proceedings against Hasina on allegations of crimes against humanity, including enforced disappearances and torture of opposition activists. The verdict is expected on November 13, 2025.
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Hasina Calls Charges ‘Politically Motivated’
Denying all accusations, Hasina described the cases as politically engineered:
“They’ve been brought by kangaroo courts, with guilty verdicts a foregone conclusion. I was mostly denied prior notice or any meaningful opportunity to defend myself,” she stated.
She criticised the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which banned the Awami League citing national security concerns and ongoing war crimes investigations against its leaders. Hasina termed the ban “unjust” and “self-defeating,” vowing that her party would boycott the February 2026 national elections.
‘Awami League Will Return’
Despite her exile, Hasina expressed confidence in her party’s revival:
“It’s really not about me or my family. For Bangladesh to achieve the future we all want, there must be a return to constitutional rule and political stability,” she said, adding that the Awami League would eventually reclaim its role in shaping the nation’s future.
