Bangladesh Welcomes Sheikh Hasina's Return, Says She Must Face Justice

Bangladesh's interim government on Tuesday said it would welcome the return of deposed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina , asserting that she should face the country's judicial process following her conviction by a special tribunal. The remarks came amid reports suggesting Hasina could return to Bangladesh before the end of the year after nearly two years in exile in India.

Speaking at a media briefing, Information and Strategy Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said the government wanted Hasina to return so that justice could take its course. He stated that many people in Bangladesh expected the death sentence awarded to the former premier to be upheld if the conviction remained in place.

Rahman, however, stressed that the legal proceedings would remain transparent and fair , adding that Hasina would be free to appoint legal counsel of her choice. He said hearings before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) could be monitored by observers and broadcast through video coverage to ensure openness. He also noted that the tribunal could revise its earlier verdict or even acquit Hasina, depending on the judicial process.

The adviser said procedural issues would not stand in the way of Hasina's return and suggested that India and Bangladesh could coordinate arrangements if she decides to travel back.

Hasina, 78 , has been living in India since August 2024 , when she fled Dhaka after her government was toppled following widespread student-led protests . In November 2025 , a special tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced her to death in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity , accusing her administration of carrying out a violent crackdown on demonstrators during the 2024 unrest.

The former prime minister has consistently rejected the charges and the verdict, describing them as politically motivated . Since the ruling, Bangladesh has repeatedly urged New Delhi to extradite Hasina so that she can face legal proceedings in the country.