Former Prime Minister’s Situation in India

Sheikh Hasina Wajid, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, who stepped down and left the country in August 2024 during widespread protests, revealed on Wednesday that she has been residing in India since her departure. She expressed a willingness to return if “law and order truly prevails.”

Her government fell due to large-scale protests against ethnic quota regulations for government positions. After resigning, she alleged she was ousted by the U.S. government for not handing over control of St. Maarten, a strategically significant island claimed by both Bangladesh and neighboring Myanmar.

In August 2024, Hasina mentioned that she could have retained her position had she surrendered Saint Martins and the Bay of Bengal to the United States.

While it was commonly believed that she had fled to India for safety, she only recently confirmed her location.

This past October, Bangladeshi prosecutors announced their demand for the death penalty against her, alleging she ordered police to use lethal force against student demonstrators the previous year.

Mohammad Tajul Islam, the chief prosecutor at the International Crimes Tribunal for Bangladesh, stated, “Sheikh Hasina is the mastermind behind all crimes. She’s a ruthless criminal deserving extreme punishment. She should have been hanged 1,400 times for the lives lost.” He further accused her of attempting to “hold onto power for her and her family’s sake,” presenting her as a hardened criminal with no remorse for her actions. Other officials from her administration have also faced charges of violence and corruption.

A report by the United Nations Human Rights Commission in February 2025 indicated there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that Hasina and her senior officials, alongside violent factions linked to her former administration, engaged in significant human rights violations during the protests in August 2024.

Bangladesh is gearing up for elections in February, but the election commission has banned Hasina’s Awami League party from participating. The current interim president, Muhammad Yunus—a Nobel Peace Prize laureate—has enacted an anti-terrorism law to bar the Awami League from political engagement.

The ban on the Awami League is so strict that expressing support for the party online could lead to criminal charges. The Awami League has stated that Yunus’ government violated “democratic norms” and deepened societal divisions, stifling democracy and inclusivity.

On Wednesday, Hasina warned that millions of her party’s supporters might boycott the upcoming elections in response to what she considers an “unjust” ban.

“The next government must have electoral legitimacy. Millions support Awami League, and if this continues, they will not vote. A functioning political system requires including all citizens,” she stated.

The Awami League is one of Bangladesh’s primary political parties, the other being the Bangladesh National Party (BNP). Should the Awami League’s ability to vote be restricted, the BNP is likely to thrive in the February elections.

Yunus isn’t linked to the BNP; he’s an economist recognized for developing microcredit systems aimed at alleviating poverty in Bangladesh. He has also suggested that the chaotic political situation cannot improve unless he gains more authority and reduces the influence of the BNP and the military.

Yunus has even threatened to resign as interim president as military pressure mounts for a general election by December 2025. Initially, he had hoped for elections in June 2026 but now seems to have settled on February 2026. Hasina emphasized that a legitimate government can’t exist without her party participating in voting.

“This isn’t just about me or my family. For Bangladesh’s future, we need to restore constitutional governance and political stability. Our nation’s direction isn’t dictated by any one person,” she noted.

“Of course, I’d like to return, provided the government is legitimate and law and order are restored,” she added, reiterating her position that she wouldn’t come back while the Awami League remains banned. She dismissed the charges against her as a “politically motivated hoax.”

Hasina stated she wouldn’t endorse any attempts to bypass the ban by encouraging her supporters to vote for alternative candidates.

“We aren’t urging Awami League voters to switch allegiances. We hope rationality prevails and enables our participation in the elections,” she stated.

This recent interview with Reuters on Wednesday marked her first media engagement since her exit, although she had previously communicated with supporters through social media.

A report issued by the Committee to Protect Journalists and five civil society organizations called on the Yunus government to implement substantial reforms to uphold free speech and press freedom, although they acknowledged more work remains.

Among the recommendations is the repeal of several restrictive laws, including the Cybersecurity Ordinance 2025, Special Powers Act, Secrecy Act, and the Anti-Terrorism Act—the same law used to outlaw the Awami League and impose a death penalty on Hasina.