Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's former prime minister widely known as the "Iron Lady" for her 15 years in power, has publicly declared her intention to return to Bangladesh in December 2026. This marks her first public appearance since fleeing to India two years ago amid mass protests and a military helicopter evacuation from her official residence.

Despite being sentenced to death by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal, Hasina addressed journalists via a shaky audio link at New Delhi's Foreign Correspondents' Club, signaling her unwillingness to end her political career.

Sreeradha Datta, an international affairs professor at Om Prakash Jindal Global University, noted that although Hasina's party, the Awami League, is banned from politics, her statement is likely to "uplift the lagging spirit" of loyalists. Datta also suggested that the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government fears Hasina's return could trigger a mass mobilisation of Awami League supporters.

"If the Indian government didn't want this to happen, it would not have happened," Professor Datta said, implying India's tacit support for Hasina's continued political engagement.

The BNP government is expected to reconsider its stance, with some believing it may adopt a less vindictive approach compared to the past, aiming to present a more evolved Bangladesh.

For families of the estimated 1,400 people killed during the 2024 protests, Hasina's exile in New Delhi represents denied justice, underscoring the ongoing political and social tensions in Bangladesh.

Sources

ABC Australia News