Hasina Vows Return to Bangladesh by December, Challenges BNP to Lift Ban and Hold Elections
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in exclusive interviews with Hindustan Times and ThePrint, has declared her intention to return to Bangladesh around December, challenging the interim government led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to lift the ban on her Awami League party and call a general election.
Speaking from an undisclosed location, the 78-year-old Awami League chief, who has been in self-exile in India since August 2024, said: "I have said that I intend to return to Bangladesh around December. The specific date, time and route will be announced at the appropriate time."
Hasina, who fled Dhaka for New Delhi after student-led protests led to the collapse of her government, dismissed the BNP's attempt to link her extradition to a possible visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India, asserting: "I am going back to my own country, I don't understand why he [Rahman] is objecting to that. They are talking about the extradition treaty, I want to go back on my own to my country. I will go back. Can I stay abroad my whole life? I have to return to my country, to my own people."
She also pointed to what she called the hypocrisy of the BNP's opposition to her virtual news conference from India, noting that Rahman had himself participated in virtual meetings of the BNP from London after giving an undertaking not to engage in politics while living in Britain.
In her interview with ThePrint, Hasina challenged the BNP government to lift the ban on the Awami League, which was imposed by the Yunus government in May 2025, describing that day as a "black day for democracy." She said: "One of the country's largest political forces has been banned. Millions of its supporters have been denied normal political rights. A country cannot return to stability by excluding such a large section of its own people."
Hasina rejected the February election as "not a free, fair, inclusive or credible, democratic election," and dismissed her death sentence imposed in absentia, saying: "A death sentence imposed in absentia through a politically motivated process cannot be treated as justice. I was not given a genuine opportunity to defend myself through a normal, impartial and credible judicial process."
She also warned against describing interim government chief Muhammad Yunus as a "puppet," calling such a label "simple."
Economic and Security Concerns
Hasina questioned the BNP government's decision to acquire combat jets from China under a $2.3-billion deal at a time when Bangladesh is grappling with electricity and gas shortages, lack of fertilisers, and a cost of living crisis. She highlighted the economic downturn, noting that Bangladesh's GDP growth has fallen to 2.22% from 6.80% during the Awami League period, and that more than two crore people have become newly unemployed.
She contrasted this with her party's record, saying: "During our time in government, Bangladesh's economy grew from about $70 billion to around $450 billion, and per capita income rose from $482 to $2,784."
Hasina also alleged that more than 600 fabricated cases have been filed against her, and 600,000 cases against Awami League leaders and workers. She claimed that "not a day goes by without people being killed," citing incidents in Rangpur and Bogura.
Regional Stability and India Ties
Emphasizing the importance of stable ties with India, Hasina said: "A stable relationship with India is not a favour to India. It is in Bangladesh's own national interest." She added: "India-Bangladesh relations are not damaged by truth. They are damaged when democracy is destroyed, extremism is allowed to rise, minorities feel unsafe, regional security is put at risk, and state institutions are used for political revenge."
Her comments come amid heightened tensions over her presence in India, which has become a key irritant in bilateral ties. India has invited Rahman for a bilateral visit and the BRICS Summit, while Dhaka has made Hasina's extradition a condition for the visit.
Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, warned that Bangladesh is becoming "another Pakistan," while the UN Security Council's monitoring mechanism has raised concerns about al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent trying to use Bangladesh for terrorist cells.
Hasina said she cannot "remain away when" the people of Bangladesh "are passing through such a painful and dangerous period," and reiterated her commitment to return to her country, saying: "I have to return to my country, to my own people."