Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina plans to return to Bangladesh from India in December 2026 despite facing a death sentence for crimes against humanity, tirto.id reported.
She is the daughter of the revolutionary figure who led Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, according to Qoo Gadget.
The former leader fled to India by helicopter in August 2024 after mass protests ended her government, according to Qoo Gadget. Her legal troubles developed after her rule ended due to the 2024 mass uprising, gadget.qoo10.co.id stated.
Hasina’s legal team sent a letter to the Bangladesh High Commission in India on Nov. 9, 2026, requesting a new passport and national identity card as soon as possible, tirto.id stated. An anonymous Awami League leader in Kolkata told the outlet that Hasina is completely serious about traveling back.
“The reason our leader, Sheikh Hasina, is applying for a passport is because she genuinely wants to return,” said an anonymous Awami League leader in Kolkata, tirto.id reported.
Hasina faces death sentence after missing appeal deadline
The International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka sentenced Hasina to death in November 2025 in absentia, holding her responsible for a brutal police crackdown on student-led protests, tirto.id and CNN Indonesia reported. The United Nations documented at least 1,400 deaths during the 2024 unrest, mostly resulting from security forces acting under Hasina’s administration.
Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam said that Hasina missed the 30-day legal window to appeal the verdict, leaving her with no remaining legal defenses, gadget.qoo10.co.id and CNN Indonesia reported. Islam asserted that authorities will not issue a new passport to a convicted fugitive.
“Sheikh Hasina has no other choice except to undergo execution over that verdict,” said Islam, as noted by Turkish media Yeni Safak, according to tirto.id.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka has repeatedly requested Hasina’s extradition from New Delhi, but Indian authorities have yet to act on the request, according to Qoo Gadget.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hasina’s Return
Can Sheikh Hasina appeal her death sentence upon returning?
“Periode hukum untuk mengajukan banding telah berakhir, dan kini tidak ada lagi banding yang dapat diajukan,” Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam said, according to Qoo Gadget.
How has the Indian government responded to extradition requests?
New Delhi is reviewing the extradition request submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, leaving Hasina inside the country under voluntary exile since 2024, gadget.qoo10.co.id stated.
What sparked the ongoing protests in Bangladesh?
Public unrest stems from a push for higher minimum wages by garment workers, and intense political polarization between supporters of the Awami League and the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, as reported by Akurat – Akurat.co and Bolong.id.
Kementerian Luar Negeri Bangladesh telah mengajukan permohonan ekstradisi Hasina kepada Pemerintah India, yang menyatakan bahwa permintaan tersebut masih menjalani peninjauan hukum, gadget.qoo10.co.id reported.
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