Dhaka: Bangladesh has questioned former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s reported plans to return from India, describing recent developments surrounding
her possible homecoming as a political stunt. The interim government maintains that Sheikh Hasina has shown no concrete intention of returning to the country through the established legal process.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Bangladesh’s Chief Prosecutor, Mohammad Aminul Islam, said media reports about Hasina’s proposed return were largely political theatrics. He argued that if the former prime minister genuinely intended to come back, she would need to follow the appropriate legal procedures.
Addressing reports that Hasina had sought a new passport and National Identity Card (NID), the chief prosecutor said the government did not expect her to return at present. He also announced that his office would hold a press conference on Tuesday afternoon to clarify her legal position and address the passport-related developments.
Sheikh Hasina expresses desire to return in December
Recent reports suggest that Sheikh Hasina has expressed a desire to return to Bangladesh in December. She fled the country in August 2024 following widespread student-led protests that eventually ended her 15-year rule. She subsequently took shelter in India.
In 2024, a special tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced Hasina to death in absentia over her alleged responsibility for the violent crackdown on protesters. However, Hasina has rejected the allegations and questioned the fairness and credibility of the judicial proceedings.
Last Thursday, Bangladesh’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Humayun Kabir, stated that Hasina would not receive a Bangladeshi passport or travel documents. He also described the former leader as a fugitive terrorist and dictator.
India yet to decide on extradition request
Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite Sheikh Hasina. New Delhi has acknowledged receiving the request but has not announced a final decision. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that the matter is being examined under established procedures. The contrasting positions highlight continuing diplomatic and legal uncertainty over Sheikh Hasina’s possible return to Bangladesh.
