Dhaka, May 23:
Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the government wants former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to return to the country through “legal procedures,” after she recently expressed hope of coming back “very soon” despite facing a death sentence in absentia.
Ahmed said there was no legal barrier to her return if she follows due process, adding that she would be required to surrender before the judiciary and face ongoing legal proceedings.
His remarks followed other officials who also indicated that no extra-judicial action would be taken if Hasina returns to Bangladesh.
Hasina has been living in India since August 2024 after her Awami League government was removed following a student-led uprising.
She was later tried by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal and sentenced to death in November 2025, a verdict strongly criticised by her supporters.
The interim administration previously banned the Awami League through an executive order, a move later supported by the current BNP-led government, which came to power in February.
Legal experts in Dhaka have noted that the deadline for challenging the tribunal’s verdict may have already expired, potentially limiting her legal options.
Despite this, Hasina has said she plans to return soon and continue leading the Awami League from exile.