Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently living in India after seeking refuge there, has announced that she plans to return to Bangladesh by December 2026 and voluntarily surrender before the courts.Hasina said that not only she, but also members of her Awami League party, would return to the country and submit themselves to the authorities. She acknowledged that she could face arrest or even be killed after returning but said she was prepared to accept any outcome.”Whether it is imprisonment, threats, or even a death sentence, I am ready to face it if it means dying in my own country,” Sheikh Hasina said. Hasina left Bangladesh and took refuge in India following the student protests and unrest that took place in 2024, which eventually led to her resignation as Prime Minister.In November 2025, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal reportedly sentenced Hasina to death in absentia over charges related to crimes against humanity during the student protests in August 2024. In addition, she was sentenced to 21 years in prison in a separate case involving the alleged misuse of government resources.Despite the legal challenges and threats surrounding her return, Sheikh Hasina has stated that she intends to return to Bangladesh and face the judicial process in her home country.
