Living Freely in Delhi: Ex-Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Says No Plans To Leave India

Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister, has opted to stay in India after fleeing due to protests. She criticises the interim government and faces serious charges related to human rights violations.

Sheikh Hasina, the ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has said that she plans to India. She fled her country to New Delhi in August 2024 following student-led protests against government job quotas.

In a recent interview with Reuters, Hasina expressed her intention to remain in India. This marks her first media appearance since her exile after leading Bangladesh for over ten years.

An interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus is currently governing Bangladesh following Hasina's removal. This administration has promised elections next February. The political landscape in Bangladesh has been dominated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Awami League. However, the Election Commission suspended the Awami League's registration in May, and the Yunus-led government banned all party activities, citing national security threats and war crimes investigations into senior Awami leaders.

Awami League's Boycott

Hasina stated that supporters of the Awami League, where she serves as president, will boycott the 2026 national election. "The ban on the Awami League is not only unjust, it is self-defeating," she remarked. She emphasised that millions support the Awami League and warned against disenfranchising them if a functional political system is desired.

The International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh has finished proceedings against Hasina, who faces charges related to crimes against humanity during a violent crackdown on student protests in mid-2024. A United Nations report indicated that up to 1,400 people may have died between July 15 and August 5, 2024, with thousands more injured due to gunfire from security forces. This period marked the worst violence since Bangladesh's independence war in 1971.

Charges Against Hasina

Prosecutors allege that Hasina oversaw enforced disappearances and torture of Opposition activists through secret detention centres run by security agencies. However, Hasina denied these accusations, stating she was not personally involved in any lethal force or other alleged crimes. "These proceedings are a politically motivated charade," she said.

Hasina criticised the judicial process as biased and predetermined. "They've been brought by kangaroo courts, with guilty verdicts a foregone conclusion," she argued. She claimed she was often denied prior notice or any meaningful opportunity to defend herself. A verdict on these charges is expected on November 13.

Political Landscape

Despite reshaping Bangladesh's economy during her tenure, Hasina faced accusations of suppressing dissent and violating human rights. She secured a fourth consecutive term in 2024 amid an election boycotted by the main Opposition whose leaders were either jailed or exiled.

"We are not asking Awami League voters to support other parties," Hasina stated firmly. She remains hopeful that common sense will prevail and they will be allowed to contest elections themselves.

Hasina's family history is marked by tragedy; her father and three brothers were killed in a military coup in 1975 while she and her sister were abroad. Despite living freely in Delhi now, she remains cautious due to this violent past.

With inputs from Reuters