Sheikh Hasina to return through legal means, what India does is up to them: Bangladesh minister

Bangladesh's law minister Asaduzzaman has reportedly said that ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina will return to the country through legal means, adding that it was up to India to see what it does. The minister's remarks came after Hasina requested the Bangladesh high commission in New Delhi to issue her a new passport and identity card, as reported by HT earlier.

Hasina had earlier said she planned to return to Bangladesh, despite the possibility of a death penalty for alleged crimes against humanity during the 2024 student-led protests. When asked about Hasina's return to Bangladesh and the legal process involved, the law minister said Dhaka had completed everything required from its side of the legal process.

"What they (India) will do is up to them," he remarked. On whether she would be entitled to appeal against her death sentence, Asaduzzaman said she would not have that opportunity under the relevant law, as she is accused and convicted of crimes against humanity, as per the Prothom Alo report.

Also Read | India ready to discuss all bilateral issues with Bangladesh, says MEA amid Sheikh Hasina row Relations between New Delhi and Dhaka have experienced significant strain after Hasina fled to India in 2024, following the mass uprising in Bangladesh.

Dhaka has repeatedly demanded Hasina's extradition, while India has said it is reviewing the requests. Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal convicted Hasina in November 2025 of crimes against humanity for her role in the crackdown on protesters during the July-August 2024 uprising.

She was sentenced to death on one charge and life imprisonment on another, although Hasina has rejected the charges. Earlier, Md Aminul Islam, chief prosecutor of Bangladesh's international crime tribunal, said Hasina has “no option" left but to face the death sentence verdict against her if she returns.

"Sheikh Hasina has no option but to face the execution of the verdict," he was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. He also said she should have come back to file an appeal within the given time period after the publication of the verdict against her.

However, the Ministry of External Affairs has not reacted to the report yet. Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Content Producer at the Hindustan Times, based in Greater Noida West. With more than five years of experience in digital journalism, Aveek has worked extensively in covering national politics and international affairs, including elections, high-profile diplomatic engagements and geopolitical conflicts.

His experience covers a wide range of major events, including the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, multiple state assembly elections, US elections, Operation Sindoor, Air India crash, India-US trade tensions to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.

Before joining Hindustan Times, Aveek worked at the editorial teams of CNN-News18, India TV and Asian News International (ANI), during which he developed an understanding of the high-pressure newsroom environment and honed his skills in covering breaking news, tracking crucial developments, and producing accurate news content under tight deadlines while maintaining editorial standards.

These stints have also provided exposure to diverse newsroom environments and the evolving standards of the media industry. Aveek holds a Master's degree in Global Studies from Ambedkar University Delhi and a Bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication from Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies.

Outside the newsroom, he enjoys reading, pursuing photography and exploring new places in his free time. You can reach him at aveek.banerjee@htdigital.in.Read More