# Sheikh Hasina vows return despite death penalty risk from enforced disappearance law 2026-08-08T06:31:15+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Deposed Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina has broken nearly two years of silence with a virtual press conference from India, declaring her intent to return home despite facing a death sentence for crimes against humanity. Her party, the Awami League, is barred from elections and most of its leadership is jailed or exiled. Bangladesh's interim government, led by Tarique Rahman of the BNP, has proposed a new Prevention and Remedies for Enforced Disappearance Act, prescribing the death penalty for such crimes. A commission recorded 1,569 enforced disappearances during Hasina’s 17-year rule, with 251 victims still missing. Hasina was convicted in absentia by a Dhaka court in 2025. Rights groups warn that political rivalries and weak law enforcement continue to drive violence. The student leaders who led the 2024 uprising against Hasina now express disillusionment, saying their July Uprising Declaration's goals remain unmet. Bangladesh's foreign ministry has protested Hasina's use of Indian soil for political activity. ## Coverage - rediff.com - thehindu.com Tags: Awami League, Bangladesh, India-Bangladesh relations, political return, Sheikh Hasina, Tarique Rahman Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/sheikh-hasina-vows-return-to-bangladesh-despite-jail-or-death/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/sheikh-hasina-vows-return-to-bangladesh-despite-jail-or-death/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.