Bangladesh Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam stated that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid, who was sentenced to death, would be arrested and sent to prison if she returned to the country from India.
According to the news of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the official Bangladesh agency, Shama, speaking to the press, stated that if Hasina returns from India and surrenders, action will be taken within the framework of existing laws.
Shama said, "It does not matter whether she surrenders in India or Bangladesh. In any case, Hasina will be arrested first and sent to prison here." he said.
Reminding that the government has applied to India for Hasina's extradition within the scope of the existing agreement, Shama underlined that diplomatic initiatives are continuing to ensure Hasina's return to the country.
Speaking to India's NDTV channel at the end of June, Hasina described the death sentence against her as "illegal, unconstitutional and part of a politically motivated process" and stated that she would return to the country she left during the protests in 2024 this year.
Protests led by students began in July 2024, following the decision to allocate public quotas to the children of those who served in the 1971 War of Independence in Bangladesh.
While the violence continued to increase, Hasina left her official residence and went to India by military helicopter, while the demonstrators raided the Prime Minister's official residence.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in and took office as the head of the interim government on August 8, 2024, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) came to power in the elections held on February 12 this year to end the interim government period.
In addition to the death penalty she was sentenced to in absentia in November 2025 on the grounds that she was personally responsible for the loss of life in the protests, Hasina was also sentenced to prison terms on corruption charges.