Sheikh Hasina's return to Bangladesh: India wants Dhaka to fulfil two conditions

India wants Bangladesh army to fly her back, but there's a catch

Over two years after Sheikh Hasina fled to India, New Delhi is reportedly looking to send the former Bangladesh prime minister back to Dhaka, but has laid down two conditions for Tarique Rahman's government. According to a BBC Bangla report, India wants Bangladesh to send a military aircraft to bring Hasina back from New Delhi. However, the proposal comes with conditions, as Hasina has been sentenced to death by a Bangladeshi court over her government's crackdown on protesters during the July 2024 uprising. The first condition is that the Bangladesh army must take responsibility for bringing its longest-serving leader Hasina back, preferably using a military aircraft. This would mirror her arrival in India aboard a Bangladesh military aircraft after she fled the country on August 5, 2024. The second condition is that Bangladesh must guarantee Hasina an opportunity to appeal her death sentence and face a fresh trial over allegations linked to the July 2024 killings.

Why does India want Sheikh Hasina back in Bangladesh

The BBC Bangla report said Hasina's continued stay in India has increasingly become an uncomfortable issue for the government, affecting its bilateral ties with Bangladesh and attracting international criticism. India has faced criticism for sheltering a former leader convicted by a Bangladeshi court in connection with the deadly crackdown on protesters, the report said. More than two years after Hasina sought refuge in India following the mass uprising in July 2024, New Delhi is increasingly looking for a way to resolve the sensitive issue with its neighbouring country. India's preferred option would have been for Hasina to move to a third country. However, repeated efforts by New Delhi to explore this possibility with different countries failed for various reasons, according to the report.

What has Sheikh Hasina said about returning to Bangladesh

Hasina has maintained that she intends to return to Bangladesh, previously telling news agency Reuters in an interview that she planned to go back in December 2026. However, she has not announced a specific date. The former prime minister has also acknowledged the risks involved in returning, including the possibility of arrest, imprisonment or even an attempt on her life. "Look, I understand the risks very well. I may be arrested the moment I arrive. They may send me to prison. They may even try to kill me. I have considered all these possibilities. But, you know, I stopped worrying about my personal safety a long time ago. I returned to Bangladesh in 1981, despite military rule. I returned again in 2007, knowing that the military-backed government might arrest me. I have faced imprisonment and repeated attempts on my life.

Fear has never stopped me from doing what I believe is right," the exiled leader said in an audio statement. In an interview with news agency IANS, Hasina also expressed concern over the situation in Bangladesh. She alleged that Awami League leaders and workers were being persecuted, while ordinary people were suffering, losing their homes and livelihoods. She described the country as going through a difficult phase, raising concerns over the treatment of political supporters and the broader situation under the new Dhaka government led by Tarique Rahman.