As the former PM prepares to return to Bangladesh later this year, its government made it clear that she will face trial and urged her to mount the strongest legal defence possible
Bangladesh has issued a sharp response to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina‘s reported plan to return to Dhaka, saying she is welcome to come back—but only to stand trial and answer the charges against her.
The reaction follows reports that Hasina, who has been living in India since the collapse of her government in August 2024, intends to return to Bangladesh by the end of this year along with senior leaders of the Awami League and voluntarily surrender before the court.
Responding to the development, Zahed Ur Rahman, an adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, said the government would ensure a fair judicial process and challenged Hasina to engage the finest legal minds to defend herself.
“Let her bring the best lawyers in the world,” Rahman said, adding that the government is prepared to proceed with the legal process in a transparent manner.
Hasina, 78, was sentenced to death in absentia last year over charges linked to the violent crackdown on student-led protests in 2024. She has consistently denied the allegations, describing the cases against her as politically motivated.
The Bangladeshi government has maintained that the former premier must return and face the country’s judicial system. Officials have also indicated that while the court’s verdict stands, any appeal or review would be decided strictly in accordance with the law.
Hasina’s proposed return is expected to become one of the biggest political developments in Bangladesh since her ouster. If she follows through with the plan, it could reignite political tensions and put renewed international focus on the country’s judicial process and democratic trajectory.
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