I may be killed, arrested or jailed: Sheikh Hasina vows Bangladesh return by December

Bangladesh's ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said she is determined to return to her country by December despite facing the possibility of arrest, imprisonment or even death, insisting that the decision is entirely her own.

"I may be killed. I may be arrested. I may be sent to prison," the 78-year-old told AFP in emailed responses to questions.

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"I am fully aware of my fate. Still, I want to go back because my people are calling me."

Hasina fled to India by helicopter in August 2024 after a student-led uprising ended her 15-year rule, with protesters storming her official residence in Dhaka. The United Nations has estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed during the crackdown on demonstrations as her government attempted to stay in power.

In November, a Dhaka court convicted Hasina of crimes against humanity and sentenced her to death by hanging, a verdict she dismissed as "political vengeance dressed up as law".

Living at an undisclosed location in India since her ouster, Hasina rejected suggestions that her planned return was linked to political pressure or diplomatic developments.

Relations between India and Bangladesh, which had deteriorated after the interim administration took charge following her fall, have stabilised since Prime Minister Tarique Rahman assumed office in February. Dhaka has formally sought Hasina's extradition, a request that New Delhi has said is "under examination".

Hasina, however, maintained that the extradition issue had no bearing on her decision.

"I can say that I am staying in India with due respect and dignity," she said.

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"Indian authorities have not discussed extradition with me. I myself have decided to return to my country."

Hasina also defended her government's human rights record, rejecting long-standing allegations by rights groups that her administration oversaw political killings, suppression of opposition parties, manipulated courts and unfair elections.

"Every time allegations were made, investigations were opened and those involved in crimes were brought to justice," she said.

She similarly denied authorising excessive force during the protests that ultimately led to her downfall, saying her administration had exercised restraint.

"My government showed the highest level of patience and tried to guide the student movement towards a peaceful solution," she said.

Describing the uprising as far more than a spontaneous student movement, Hasina claimed: "It had become a planned operation driven by hidden instructions, organised violence, propaganda and the objective of overthrowing the government."

The former premier declined to comment on the recent youth-led protests in India that forced the resignation of the country's education minister last week.

Asked whether she intended to resume political activity if she returned to Bangladesh, despite her Awami League party effectively being banned, Hasina avoided a direct answer.

"Power is not my destination. Service to the people is."

She expressed "sympathy for every family that lost a loved one" during the unrest but stopped short of apologising, while also declining to say whether she regretted any decisions taken during the crisis.

"Decisions of state are not made by one person alone, and they cannot be judged honestly by isolating one moment from the whole crisis," she said.