Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently in exile in India, has said her return to Bangladesh hinges on the restoration of participatory democracy, the lifting of the ban on her Awami League party, and the conduct of free, fair, and inclusive elections.

In an exclusive email interview with PTI from an undisclosed location in India, Hasina accused the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus of damaging bilateral ties with India and empowering extremist groups. She asserted that the long-standing relationship between Dhaka and New Delhi was strong enough to withstand what she described as the “foolhardiness of the Yunus interlude.”

Grateful to India for refuge

Expressing gratitude for the Indian government’s support, Hasina said she was “immensely grateful to India’s government and its people for their kind hospitality.” The 78-year-old leader, who fled Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, following violent anti-government protests, said she left the country amid a breakdown of law and order that forced her resignation.

“Obviously, we lost control of the situation and that was regrettable,” she said. “There are many lessons to be learned from these terrible incidents, but in my view, some of the responsibility is also on the so-called student leaders — actually seasoned political firebrands — who whipped up the crowds.”

Calls for inclusive elections

Hasina denied reports that she had called for a boycott of the February 2026 elections, stressing that any poll held without the participation of the Awami League would lack legitimacy.

“The most important condition for my return to Bangladesh is the same condition that the Bangladeshi people require: a return to participatory democracy. The interim administration must rescind its ban on the Awami League and allow elections that are free, fair, and inclusive,” she said.

“Tens of millions of people support us,” she added. “Whether in government or in opposition, the Awami League needs to be part of the political conversation in Bangladesh.”

Criticism of Yunus government

Hasina accused Yunus of harming Bangladesh’s foreign relations and fostering extremism. “Yunus’ hostility to India is foolish and self-defeating in the extreme and reveals him for the weak monarch he is — unelected, chaotic, and dependent upon the support of extremists,” she alleged.

She also claimed that Yunus had “enjoyed at least the passive support of some western liberals” who once viewed him favourably but were now witnessing his alleged discrimination against minorities and dismantling of democratic structures.

“The interim government doesn’t represent what our countrymen and women think. India is and will remain our nation’s most important friend,” she said, reassuring Indians concerned about the deteriorating situation in Bangladesh.

Ready to face international trial

Hasina said she was prepared to face trial under international supervision, including at the International Criminal Court (ICC), but accused the Yunus-led government of avoiding this option.

“I have repeatedly challenged Yunus’ government to prosecute me in the ICC if it is so confident of its case. Yunus continues to duck this challenge because he knows that the ICC, a genuinely impartial tribunal, would certainly acquit me,” she asserted.

She dismissed Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal — which has initiated proceedings seeking the death penalty against her — as a “kangaroo tribunal” controlled by political rivals.

“They are trying to neutralise both me and the Awami League as political forces. The fact that they would use the death penalty to suppress their opponents reveals how little respect they have for democracy or due process,” Hasina said.

Awaiting political restoration

As Bangladesh’s longest-serving prime minister, Hasina remains a deeply polarising figure. Her comments mark the first public statement since her exile, signalling a desire to re-enter national politics — but only if democratic norms are restored.

Whether the interim government lifts the political ban and restores electoral rights remains to be seen, but Hasina’s remarks underline her continued influence over Bangladesh’s political future.