Bangladesh says Hasina must face death sentence on return

Bangladesh’s chief prosecutor at the International Crimes Tribunal said on Tuesday that ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina must face execution of her death sentence if she returns, Anadolu Agency reported.

He said she had exhausted her legal options to challenge the verdict.

Can Sheikh Hasina still appeal her death sentence?

According to Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam, she cannot. He told reporters in Dhaka that Hasina failed to challenge the verdict within the 30-day period stipulated by law.

In his view, the tribunal’s ruling can no longer be appealed, and she would have to face its execution.

Why was Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death?

Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia in November 2025. The Dhaka-based tribunal convicted her of crimes against humanity over the deadly suppression of student-led protests in 2024.

She fled to neighboring India in August that year as a mass uprising ended her 15-year rule. The United Nations says the 2024 crackdown left as many as 1,400 people dead. It documented widespread killings and serious human rights violations by security forces during the suppression of protests.

Can Hasina get a passport or return through extradition?

The prosecutor dismissed reports that a London-based legal chamber had approached Bangladeshi authorities seeking a passport or travel document for her. Citing the Bangladesh Passport Order of 1973, he said the law restricts the issuance of travel documents to people convicted of serious offences.

Aminul said Hasina would need to formally approach the Indian government if she wanted to return under the extradition treaty between the two countries.

Is Hasina planning to return to Bangladesh?

The prosecutor’s remarks come as Hasina has indicated plans to return to Bangladesh in December, despite the death sentence. She has rejected the conviction as politically motivated and questioned the tribunal’s legitimacy.

Aminul also questioned whether elements within her Awami League party were using her possible return to fuel political instability.