Sheikh Hasina must return to Bangladesh to face her sentence

For families who lost relatives in Bangladesh's July-August 2024 uprising, Sheikh Hasina's presence in India is far more than just a question of political refuge. Some are caring for injured relatives, while others have been left devastated by their losses. Parents have rooms that are now empty.

When the ousted prime minister speaks to Bangladeshis from India, the question arises: Why should those who paid the price for democracy have to watch the very person they hold responsible for their suffering continue to intervene in Bangladesh's politics from abroad?

International Findings

In February 2025, the UN Human Rights Office estimated that as many as 1,400 people may have been killed during the 2024 uprising, with thousands more injured. It identified systematic repression by the former government, the security forces and violent elements of the Awami League.

The UN concluded that there was an official policy of violent suppression that warranted further investigation into potential crimes against humanity. These were international findings of fact, not a criminal verdict.

Domestic Proceedings

In November 2025, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal found Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity, including instigating and abetting the atrocities and ordering lethal force against protesters. It also held her responsible under the doctrine of superior command responsibility.

The tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia. She has called the trial politically motivated. Her denial in no way diminishes the victims' right to justice.

Political Intervention

Under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the government is attempting to repair a damaged economy and to re-establish a political culture that has been badly scarred by years of autocratic rule. Yet Hasina's supporters abroad continue to promote the prospect of her political comeback on social media.

Such messages fuel uncertainty about the future of Bangladesh's democratic transition, particularly for families still waiting for justice.

In January 2026, Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry accused Hasina of inciting violence to disrupt the forthcoming elections after she addressed a public event in New Delhi.

Diplomatic Concerns

C Christine Fair, a political scientist at Georgetown University, suggested that India's domestic politics explained its reluctance to restrain Hasina, despite having previously persuaded other foreign political figures to exercise restraint.

Article 6 of the India-Bangladesh extradition treaty specifically excludes murder, incitement to murder and related offences from the political offence exception. Bangladesh's extradition request must be assessed on its legal merits.

The government of Bangladesh should make clear that Dhaka wants constructive relations with India on the basis of sovereign equality and expects a serious response to its extradition request. If India is serious about resetting its relationship with Bangladesh, it has to respect the democratic mandate of that country and acknowledge the suffering of its people.