Bangladesh Prosecutor Says Hasina Faces Execution if She Returns

Bangladesh’s chief prosecutor, Md Aminul Islam, said on Tuesday, November 10, that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina would face enforcement of her death sentence if she returned to the country. Speaking to reporters at the International Crimes Tribunal premises in Dhaka, Islam said she had not returned to face trial or appealed within the prescribed period. “There is now no alternative to carrying out the verdict,” Islam said. He said Hasina should make a written request to the Indian government if she wanted to return, adding that he knew of no such request. Section 21 of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act provides for an appeal to the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division within 30 days of conviction and sentence. Hasina’s lawyers challenged the fairness of the proceedings in a September 28 complaint to the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians. Their statement said the tribunal sentenced her to death on November 17, 2025, and alleged that the prosecution was politically motivated. Hasina has lived in India since being ousted in August 2024. A letter sent on Monday, November 9, by a UK lawyer to Bangladesh’s high commission requested a new passport and national identity card for her. Exiled Awami League leaders interviewed this week said she remained intent on returning in December. A party leader based in Kolkata said she would seek a travel pass if a passport was refused.