Hasina will be jailed if she returns to Bangladesh, minister says

DHAKA: Former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina will be sent to prison if she returns from exile in India and surrenders before a court, Bangladesh’s state minister for foreign affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on Monday.

The minister’s remarks came days after Hasina told Reuters in an interview that she planned to return in December and present herself before the court. Hasina has been living in New Delhi since August 2024 after being ousted following a mass uprising against her lengthy rule.

Speaking to reporters, Obaed said Hasina had already been convicted and would face legal consequences upon her return.

“Sheikh Hasina is a convicted criminal. If she surrenders, action will be taken against her as per the laws of Bangladesh,”

Obaed added that the former premier would first be taken into custody before further legal proceedings continue under Bangladeshi law.

“She will have to go to jail and further proceedings will follow as per the provisions of the law.”

Hasina is facing the death penalty in Bangladesh after the country’s war-crimes court sentenced her to death in absentia in November over orders linked to a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising. She has rejected the allegations from exile. Her Awami League party has also been banned after the 2024 uprising, which the United Nations said left 1,400 people dead.

Bangladesh is currently being run by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government, which assumed office in February after elections and has been trying to steady the country after two years of political upheaval.

Dhaka has formally requested Hasina’s extradition from India. New Delhi said in April that it was reviewing the request and wanted to engage constructively with Bangladesh’s new government while strengthening bilateral relations.

In her interview last week, Hasina said she intended to return voluntarily and that other Awami League leaders currently abroad would also come back to face the courts. She said legal cases had been lodged against nearly all party leaders and workers, with many now in hiding.

“Cases have been filed against almost all of our leaders and workers, and many of them are in hiding,”

She added:

“So I said that this time I am returning home, and one day, all of you should come. All together, we will all surrender in court.”

Obaed said Hasina’s latest remarks were aimed at rallying party leaders and activists who are currently fugitives.

“an attempt to mobilise fugitive party leaders and activists”