Bangladesh former prime minister Sheikh Hasina says she will return from India this year

Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in exile in India since fleeing the country after mass protests forced her to step down, announced in a televised interview that she intends to go back to Bangladesh later this year. She said her return is aimed at restoring democracy, the rule of law and the rights of the Bangladeshi people, not to seek power again.

Hasina, who faces several criminal cases in Bangladesh that could carry the death penalty, denounced the proceedings as "political revenge" and complained that the judiciary is being used to strip the Awami League of leadership. She also highlighted the recent 77th independence‑day celebrations and the arrest of dozens of Awami League activists, insisting that the party is "more than a political organization – it is the power of the people".

The announcement comes amid ongoing political tension in Bangladesh and raises questions about the former leader’s legal status and potential impact on the country’s political landscape.