Sheikh Hasina May Return to Bangladesh in December? India Reportedly Sets Two Conditions for Dhaka
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could return to Dhaka as early as December, more than two years after fleeing the country and taking refuge in India. However, India’s reported conditions for facilitating her return could pose a major challenge for the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
According to a report by BBC Bangla, New Delhi is seeking two key assurances from Bangladesh before facilitating Hasina’s return. These reportedly include ensuring her personal security and guaranteeing a fresh and fair legal process, including an opportunity to appeal against her death sentence.
The report, citing unnamed sources in India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and military establishment, stated that New Delhi has been exploring possible arrangements to facilitate the return of the Awami League chief to Bangladesh.
One of India’s reported conditions concerns Hasina’s safe return to Bangladesh. According to BBC Bangla, New Delhi wants the Bangladesh Army to play an active role in ensuring her safe journey.
The proposed arrangements could involve Bangladesh sending a military aircraft to New Delhi to bring her back or arranging for its military personnel to receive her at a designated point along the India-Bangladesh border.
The second condition relates to the legal proceedings against Hasina in Bangladesh. India reportedly wants Dhaka to guarantee her an opportunity to appeal against her death sentence and receive a fresh and fair trial over allegations linked to the crackdown during the July 2024 uprising.
An Indian official quoted by BBC Bangla reportedly said that New Delhi would not want to knowingly hand Hasina over to face execution without an opportunity to challenge the verdict through a fair legal process.
India has also reportedly expressed interest in ensuring that the proceedings receive international scrutiny.
MEA Refuses to Comment
When asked whether New Delhi had requested Dhaka to send a military aircraft to bring Hasina back and provide assurances regarding her legal proceedings, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal declined to comment.
“I have nothing to say on that,” he said.
Neither the Indian government nor the Bangladesh government has officially confirmed the reported conditions or the proposed arrangements.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s assistant press secretary, KM Nazmul Haque, took a swipe at the former Prime Minister in a Facebook post.
He claimed that no country was willing to provide shelter to Hasina.
“The UK, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Finland, the United States, Belarus, Qatar — not even a single country in Africa is willing to provide shelter to a genocidaire,” Nazmul wrote.
He further claimed that Hasina was now considering returning to Bangladesh as a last resort, relying on the support of grassroots Awami League leaders, workers and supporters.
His remarks came amid reports that India had been making behind-the-scenes efforts to explore a possible arrangement for Hasina’s return.
In a significant development, Hasina reportedly made her first formal attempt to reconnect with the Bangladeshi authorities on November 9 by applying for a fresh passport and National Identity Card (NID).
The application came more than two years after she fled Dhaka and took refuge in India on August 5, 2024, following the mass uprising that led to the fall of her government.
The move is being viewed as an important step towards fulfilling her stated intention of returning to Bangladesh in December.
However, the Bangladeshi authorities have not responded favourably to her request. The government has reiterated its demand that India extradite the former Prime Minister so that she can face the legal cases against her.
Hasina’s possible return has become a sensitive issue in India-Bangladesh relations.
While India is reportedly exploring ways to facilitate her return with guarantees of security and a fair legal process, several political leaders in Bangladesh continue to demand her extradition.
Her return could also have significant political implications for the Awami League, which has faced a major setback following her government’s ouster.
For now, the proposed December return remains uncertain, with both governments yet to officially confirm the reported arrangements.
The key question remains whether the Tarique Rahman-led government will agree to India’s reported conditions and pave the way for Sheikh Hasina’s return to Bangladesh.
