Explained: Why is Sheikh Hasina’s plan to return to Bangladesh contentious?
Summary
Bangladesh has rejected a passport request for deposed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who says she plans to return from exile in India in December. Her planned return has stirred political tension in Bangladesh, where she has been sentenced to death over a crackdown on protesters.
Key Points
- Bangladesh rejected a request for a new passport for deposed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is in self-imposed exile in India.
- Hasina fled after a student-led uprising in 2024 and was later sentenced to death over a crackdown that the UN says killed up to 1,400 people.
- Her Awami League says she will return in December, but the government fears her return could become a political spectacle and trigger unrest.
- Bangladesh says it wants India to hand her over under an extradition treaty, while Hasina says she wants to return voluntarily and surrender.
