Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to make her first public appearance since being removed from power in 2024, as she prepares to address an event in New Delhi amid growing uncertainty over her possible return to Bangladesh and the legal consequences she could face.
According to AFP, Hasina said in an email interview last week that she remains determined to return to Bangladesh despite concerns over her safety, possible arrest and the death sentence issued against her by a Dhaka court. The 78-year-old former leader said she wants to go back to her country voluntarily, claiming that her supporters are calling for her return.
Hasina is scheduled to speak on Wednesday at an event organized by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in New Delhi. The event is expected to focus on her political future and plans for returning to Bangladesh. Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel are also expected to participate.
Hasina has been living in India since August 2024, when her government collapsed following weeks of violent student-led protests that spread across Bangladesh. The unrest resulted in a major political crisis, forcing her to leave the country and paving the way for an interim government.
However, her possible return has triggered renewed debate over her legal status. Bangladesh’s Law Minister M Asaduzzaman recently said Hasina has the right to return as a Bangladeshi citizen but warned that authorities would enforce the law if she enters the country.
The minister said Hasina could be arrested immediately upon arrival and might not have the opportunity to surrender directly before a court. He added that authorities would act according to legal procedures.
The legal pressure against Hasina increased after Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death in November 2025, after convicting her in absentia over allegations related to the government’s response to the 2024 protests. Hasina has rejected the charges, describing the case as politically motivated.
Following her removal, Bangladesh’s interim administration also moved against Hasina’s political party, the Awami League. The party was dissolved under an executive order using anti-terror legislation, further deepening political divisions in the country.
The International Crimes Tribunal, originally established in 2010 to prosecute individuals accused of collaborating with Pakistani forces during Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war, was later expanded by the interim government to handle cases involving Hasina and other former officials.
Hasina’s planned appearance comes at a sensitive moment for Bangladesh, where political tensions remain high ahead of discussions over the country’s future governance. Her supporters argue that she remains a key political figure with significant public support, while critics accuse her government of human rights violations and suppressing opposition voices.
