Deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced she will return to the country in December, despite facing a death sentence over the 2024 protest crackdown.
Key facts
- Sheikh Hasina, 78, says she plans to return to Bangladesh in December.
- She is currently in exile in India.
- Hasina faces the death penalty in Bangladesh.
- The death sentence relates to a crackdown on protests in 2024.
- Hasina leads the Awami League party.
Sheikh Hasina, the ousted former prime minister of Bangladesh, has announced that she intends to return to the country in December, according to Al Jazeera. The 78-year-old leader made the announcement despite facing the death penalty in Bangladesh.
Hasina is currently in exile in India. Her planned return would bring the Awami League leader back to a country where she has been convicted and faces a death sentence, according to Al Jazeera reporting.
The death sentence relates to a crackdown on protests in 2024. Al Jazeera described Hasina as a fugitive ex-prime minister who was deposed from power.
Her stated decision to return raises the question of whether Bangladesh would accept the convicted former leader, a point highlighted in Al Jazeera’s coverage of the announcement.
Al Jazeera reported the announcement across multiple stories on 5 and 6 August 2026, noting Hasina’s specific plan to return in December from her exile in India.
Why it matters
Sheikh Hasina's planned return would be a significant moment for Bangladesh, given her conviction and the death sentence she faces over the 2024 protest crackdown. The move raises questions about whether the country would accept the return of its deposed leader and what it could mean for political stability.
Frequently asked questions
When does Sheikh Hasina plan to return to Bangladesh?
According to Al Jazeera, Hasina says she plans to return in December.
What legal situation does Hasina face in Bangladesh?
Al Jazeera reports that Hasina faces the death penalty in Bangladesh, with a death sentence related to a crackdown on protests in 2024.
Where is Sheikh Hasina currently?
She is in exile in India, according to Al Jazeera.

