Ousted leader Sheikh Hasina says she is living freely in Delhi, denies crimes against humanity and warns Awami League supporters may boycott 2026 polls if barred.
Sheikh Hasina Speaks Out From Delhi After Political Ouster
Ousted Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina, now living in New Delhi, has publicly denied charges of crimes against humanity and warned that her Awami League supporters could boycott the 2026 national election if the party is not allowed to contest. Hasina — who fled Dhaka after mass student-led protests and violent unrest in 2024 — said she feels “free” in India but remains cautious about returning given her family’s violent history and pending legal issues.
Hasina’s statements mark her first extensive media engagement since leaving Bangladesh in August last year. She insisted the charges and tribunal proceedings are politically motivated and described the domestic trials as a “charade,” saying she was denied a meaningful opportunity to defend herself. The former prime minister urged for electoral legitimacy in any future government, arguing that disenfranchising millions of Awami League voters would be self-defeating for Bangladesh’s democracy.
The backdrop to Hasina’s remarks includes a United Nations report that placed the death toll during the 2024 protests as high as 1,400, and an International Crimes Tribunal verdict scheduled for November 13, 2025. Bangladesh’s interim government under Muhammad Yunus has barred the Awami League from party activities and suspended its registration, actions Hasina says undermine fair contestation.
