---
title: "Exiled Sheikh Hasina Demands Party Restoration and Pledges December Return to Bangladesh"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/sheikh-hasina-awami-league-ban-return-december-1njwu
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: World
published: 2026-08-05T14:33:27.000Z
modified: 2026-08-05T17:01:52.324Z
language: en-IN
---

# Exiled Sheikh Hasina Demands Party Restoration and Pledges December Return to Bangladesh

From an undisclosed location in India, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for the reversal of the ban on the Awami League. She announced plans to surrender to Dhaka authorities by the end of 2024 despite a standing death sentence.

## Key takeaways

- Sheikh Hasina announced her intention to return to Bangladesh in December 2026 and surrender to the current government.
- Speaking from India, the former PM demanded the removal of the ban on her party, the Awami League.
- The Tarique Rahman administration has warned media outlets against publishing Hasina's statements due to a 2024 court order.
- Hasina faces a death sentence for war crimes related to the 2024 crackdown but maintains that all charges are fabricated.

## The Media Return of an Ousted Leader

Marking exactly two years since her removal from power, Sheikh Hasina addressed the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia on August 5, 2026. Speaking from behind a blank video feed, the 78-year-old former leader delivered an audio-only message from New Delhi. While her son and various party associates appeared on camera during the session, Hasina remained unseen. This event represents her first formal engagement with the press since she fled Dhaka in 2024 following a massive student-led uprising.

## Defiance Against Legal Verdicts

Hasina used the platform to demand that the current government lift the prohibition on her political organization, the Awami League. She dismissed the various legal proceedings against her as fabricated, asserting that fear of prosecution would not prevent her from fulfilling what she described as a duty to the public. In November 2025, a war-crimes tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for her role in the lethal crackdown on protesters during the 2024 unrest. She continues to deny these allegations from her exile in India.

## Key Facts

- Sheikh Hasina has set a target of December 2026 for her return to Bangladesh to face the authorities.
- The current administration, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, assumed office following the February 2026 elections.
- Bangladesh authorities warned domestic media on August 4, 2026, that broadcasting Hasina's statements violates a 2024 court injunction.
- Dhaka has officially requested Hasina's extradition, a demand currently being reviewed by the Indian government.
- The former leader ended a cumulative 20-year tenure as Prime Minister when she fled the country two years ago.

## What Happens Next

The diplomatic tension between New Delhi and Dhaka persists as India evaluates the formal extradition request for the former Prime Minister. While Hasina maintains she will disclose the specific details of her homecoming when the timing is appropriate, the Tarique Rahman government continues to enforce legal restrictions on her public visibility. Her promised surrender in December will test the resolve of the current administration's judicial stance and the stability of the post-election political environment.

Source: The Hindu — World

---
Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/sheikh-hasina-awami-league-ban-return-december-1njwu
Reported from: The Hindu — World