‘I prefer death to exile’: Sheikh Hasina

Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed her intention to return to her home country in December, saying she is prepared to face imprisonment or even death rather than continue living in exile.

In an email interview with the Associated Press, Hasina said she would prefer to return to Bangladesh and live among her people, even if doing so puts her life at risk.

“If death is my destiny, I would rather die in my own country, among my own people,” she said, according to the interview.

Hasina fled to India in 2024 after being removed from power following widespread public protests against her government. The demonstrations, largely led by students, triggered a political crisis that ended her long tenure in office.

Before her removal, Hasina’s government faced accusations of ordering a violent crackdown on student protesters. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands injured during the unrest. According to the United Nations, approximately 1,400 people died during the protest movement.

In 2025, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Hasina to death in absentia over her government’s crackdown on protesters, convicting her of crimes against humanity. The tribunal held her responsible for ordering the violent response to the demonstrations.

According to the United Nations, nearly 1,400 people were killed during the crackdown. Hasina has denied wrongdoing, rejected the tribunal’s verdict and questioned the legitimacy of the proceedings.

Despite the sentence, Hasina has reiterated that she intends to return to Bangladesh in December. She acknowledged that she could be arrested upon arrival and said she was prepared to face imprisonment, torture or even death.

Bangladesh has repeatedly requested India’s cooperation in securing her extradition. However, India has not handed her over to Dhaka.

Her proposed return comes amid continuing political tensions in Bangladesh. The Awami League, the party she led for decades, remains barred from political activities and was also prevented from contesting the February general elections. The polls resulted in Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Tarique Rahman coming to power.

Hasina has accused the current government of targeting her party’s supporters, claiming that thousands have been arrested or forced into hiding. The government, however, maintains that arrests have been made on the basis of specific criminal allegations.

Her planned return could further intensify the country’s political debate, particularly over her legal status, the future of the Awami League and the possibility of her extradition from India. AP News +2