Bangladesh ex-PM Sheikh Hasina expected to announce return from exile

Dhaka – Khaleda Zia, the former prime minister and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, is expected to announce her return to Bangladesh from exile in New Delhi despite a death‑penalty verdict pending against her in a high‑profile corruption case. Zia, who was released from prison in 2022 after serving a five‑year sentence for graft, fled to India amid concerns for her safety and has remained abroad while her legal team challenges the death‑sentence ruling issued by a lower court in 2023. The announcement, anticipated in a televised statement later this week, would mark her first public move toward re‑entering the country since the verdict was confirmed.

The death‑penalty case stems from allegations that Zia was involved in the 1992 murder of a political rival, a charge the ruling Awami League government has pursued vigorously as part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures. International human‑rights groups have called for a fair trial and expressed alarm over the use of capital punishment in politically sensitive cases. Bangladesh’s Election Commission has scheduled national elections for early next year, and Zia’s potential return could reshape the electoral landscape, intensifying competition between the BNP and the incumbent Awami League.

If Zia proceeds with her return, she will likely face immediate arrest and detention pending appeal of the death sentence, a scenario that could trigger widespread protests and further strain Bangladesh’s political climate. Authorities have indicated that any legal proceedings will follow due process, while opposition supporters view her comeback as a rallying point for dissent. The development underscores the ongoing tension between Bangladesh’s ruling party and its principal opposition ahead of the upcoming elections.