Dhaka: Bangladesh’s top prosecutor has warned that deposed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina would face the death penalty if she returns to the country, saying the window to challenge her conviction has closed, AFP
reported.
Hasina, whose 15 years in power were brought to an end by a mass uprising she attempted to suppress, has said she plans to come back to Bangladesh in December. She has been living in self-imposed exile in India since fleeing Dhaka in August 2024, after being convicted in absentia of crimes against humanity over the deadly crackdown on protesters.
“Sheikh Hasina has no option but to face the execution of the verdict,” Md Aminul Islam told reporters, responding to reports that she planned to return from self-imposed exile in neighbouring India.
He said the 79-year-old former leader had failed to file an appeal within the permitted period, leaving her without any further avenue to contest the court’s decision.
“The statutory appeal period has expired, and no appeal can now be filed,” he said.
From Exile To Trial
Hasina is the daughter of Bangladesh’s independence leader and presided over a period of rapid economic expansion that helped turn the country of 170 million people into a major global manufacturing centre.
But her government also faced persistent criticism over political repression, restrictions on the press, and allegations of serious human-rights violations, including the persecution and killing of opposition figures.
The crackdown in 2024 left as many as 1,400 people dead, according to the United Nations. Hasina fled by helicopter to India as crowds stormed her official residence.
She has largely stayed out of public view since then, appearing only occasionally by telephone to address news conferences. Her voice has sounded weak in those appearances.
Hasina has repeatedly declared her intention to return to Bangladesh in December. In comments to AFP, she said she was “fully aware” that she could be hanged if she went back.
She said “fear cannot decide” her “duty to the people”.
Legal And Political Pressure
Hasina refused court orders requiring her to return to Bangladesh and appear in person during proceedings examining whether she bore command responsibility for the violent response to the student-led uprising.
Among those who testified was a man whose face had been severely disfigured by a gunshot.
A state-appointed lawyer represented Hasina during the trial. She dismissed the proceedings as a “jurisprudential joke”.
In November 2025, a Dhaka court found her guilty on three counts of crimes against humanity — including incitement, ordering killings, and failing to prevent atrocities — and sentenced her to death in her absence.
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry has asked India to extradite her. New Delhi has said the request is still being examined through legal channels.
Her continued stay in India has added to tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
Hasina also faces multiple other legal cases, including allegations of corruption.
This week, her lawyers asked for her passport to be renewed, though they did not specify where or when she intended to travel.
Islam said the passport authority could refuse to issue travel documents to a person convicted of a serious offence.
“Our advice to Sheikh Hasina would be, if you genuinely wish to return to Bangladesh, you should write to the Indian authorities and seek to facilitate your return under the extradition treaty,” he said.
Her stated intention to return creates a major political dilemma for the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
A large section of the public wants to see Hasina executed, while others worry that her arrival could rally her former supporters and reignite clashes between opposing political groups.
Police said on Monday that they had detained 12 people in connection with a string of petrol-bomb attacks targeting property, an empty bus, and police vehicles this month. No injuries were reported.
Dhaka police spokesman Md Akhtar Hossain said the arrested individuals belonged to Hasina’s banned Awami League party.