Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has ruled out returning to the country under the present circumstances, calling the legal action against her politically motivated and warning that Bangladesh is slipping further into instability amid continuing violence and unrest.
Her refusal comes against the backdrop of fresh disorder in Bangladesh last week, including the killing of a Hindu man, which Hasina cited as proof of the deteriorating law-and-order situation since her ouster. She has said she would only return once the country has a legitimate government and an independent judiciary, maintaining that the current environment makes a fair trial impossible.
Hasina has accused the interim administration led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus of lacking democratic legitimacy and of using state institutions to settle political scores. She has claimed that the verdict delivered by the International Crimes Tribunal was not a genuine judicial process but a political move aimed at removing her from public life. According to her, she was denied basic rights of defence, including the freedom to appoint legal counsel, and the tribunal was used as part of a broader crackdown on the Awami League.
In November, the International Crimes Tribunal found Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity linked to the July–August 2024 uprising. Local media reported that Tribunal-1 imposed the death penalty after convicting her on all five charges, concluding that she and senior members of her former government had enabled and directed atrocities during the protests.
Rejecting the ruling, Hasina has said she still believes in Bangladesh’s constitutional traditions, arguing that justice can only prevail once institutional independence is restored. She has also dismissed demands for her extradition, describing them as signs of desperation from an unelected administration struggling to retain control.
A major focus of her criticism has been the interim government’s political roadmap. Hasina has questioned the credibility of elections proposed for February, pointing to the continued ban on the Awami League. She has argued that excluding a party with repeated national mandates would undermine the electoral process, weaken voter participation and leave any future government without moral authority.
Speaking about her departure from Bangladesh, Hasina has said she left to prevent further bloodshed, not to evade accountability. She expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended by India, while warning that ties between Dhaka and New Delhi have deteriorated sharply under the interim administration.
Hasina has accused the current authorities of encouraging anti-India sentiment, failing to protect religious minorities and allowing extremist groups to gain influence over domestic and foreign policy. She has said India has been Bangladesh’s most consistent partner for decades and that bilateral relations, rooted in shared history and geography, will endure beyond the present crisis.
Raising concerns over the safety of Indian diplomats and missions, Hasina alleged that extremist elements emboldened under the Yunus-led administration have targeted embassies, media organisations and minority communities. She further claimed that convicted militants have been released and radical figures elevated to positions of authority, weakening the state’s ability to maintain order.
The killing of Sharif Usman Hadi, she said, reflects the scale of the breakdown in law and order, with violence becoming increasingly routine and damaging Bangladesh’s standing with its neighbours. A state unable to ensure internal security, she warned, risks losing credibility internationally.
Hasina has also sounded alarm over the growing influence of radical Islamist groups, claiming organisations linked to international terror networks are now operating openly. She cautioned that such groups project moderation abroad while steadily radicalising institutions at home — a trend she said should concern not only India but the wider region.
On rhetoric targeting India’s Siliguri Corridor, often referred to as the Chicken’s Neck, Hasina described such statements as reckless and unrepresentative of public opinion in Bangladesh, arguing that no responsible leadership would threaten a neighbour vital to trade and regional stability.
She also criticised the interim government’s outreach to Pakistan, saying that while Bangladesh supports cordial relations with all countries, the current approach reflects diplomatic isolation and poor judgement rather than strategic balance.
Reiterating her position, Hasina said the interim administration has no mandate to reshape Bangladesh’s long-term domestic or foreign policy. She maintained that once Bangladeshis are able to vote freely again, democratic legitimacy will return and the country’s institutions and international relationships can begin to recover.