Sheikh Hasina Calls for Democratic Restoration in Bangladesh Amid Death Penalty Threat

Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in exile in New Delhi since 2024, addressed the Global Center for Democratic Governance seminar on 18 September 2026, warning that Bangladesh’s governance crisis undermines civil liberties.

The former prime minister is currently under a death‑penalty order issued by the Supreme Court on 12 August 2026 for alleged corruption and abuse of power under the 2018 Anti‑Corruption Act.

The London forum, held in the Godfrey Mitchell Room at One Great George Street, also featured former adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, UK MP Bob Blackman, and former European Parliament member Paulo Casaca, all of whom echoed Hasina’s call for rule of law.

Hasina said she will return to Dhaka in December after a 50‑day exile, with a timetable that includes convening a national assembly and drafting a transitional charter.

Opposition leader Shirin Sharmin, speaking from a makeshift office in Dhaka, accused Hasina of staging a political stunt, while civil‑society activist Rahima Khan welcomed the emphasis on democratic participation.

Bangladesh’s parliament is slated to vote on her return on 5 January 2027, a decision that could trigger a contested election and reshape the country’s political landscape.