Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina announces her plan to return to Bangladesh

What the report says

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says she plans to return to Bangladesh after spending two years in exile in India, according to Al Jazeera, despite the fact that she faces the death penalty at home. The 78-year-old made the announcement on Wednesday during a video appearance at an event organized by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia.

Al Jazeera reports that Hasina was joined at the event by her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and other figures from her Awami League party, including former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel. She did not give a firm return date, saying the timing would be announced later, but indicated that she would like to come back in December.

The report places the announcement in the context of Hasina’s removal from power in 2024 after a violent crackdown on protesters. Her stated intention to return is significant because it comes amid serious legal jeopardy and could have implications for Bangladeshi politics, including the future of the Awami League and the country’s post-crisis political landscape. Additional background: Bangladesh has experienced prolonged tension over accountability, opposition politics and the aftermath of the 2024 unrest, but the article does not provide further legal or diplomatic details.