"The bright possibility of Sheikh Hasina's return to Bangladesh's politics- New excitement in South Asia's political arena.

"The bright possibility of Sheikh Hasina's return to Bangladesh's politics- New excitement in South Asia's political arena." Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 13, 2025: The rumors of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s return to the country have gained new momentum, being widely covered by Indian media. Rabbi Alam, Vice President of the United States Awami League, recently claimed in an interview with Indian media outlet ANI that Sheikh Hasina is set to become the Prime Minister of Bangladesh once again. This has been prominently broadcast by Indian media.

What Did Rabbi Alam Say?

Rabbi Alam stated, "Sheikh Hasina is returning as Prime Minister. The young generation made a mistake, but it is not their fault; they have been misled." He described the ongoing political crisis as a "terrorist uprising" and urged the international community to take the matter seriously.

He further added, "Bangladesh is under attack. This is not a political movement; rather, it is a terrorist uprising."

Political Asylum in India & Bangladesh’s Request for Repatriation

After being ousted from power last year following a student-led movement, Sheikh Hasina took political asylum in India. In December, the Bangladeshi government formally requested India to send her back. Interim government Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain confirmed that a "note verbale" was sent to the Indian Embassy in Dhaka regarding this matter.

Sheikh Hasina’s Response

In a virtual speech in February, Sheikh Hasina vowed revenge, stating, "I will return and avenge the blood of our martyrs. I will ensure justice, just as I have done before."

She further said, "Allah has given me a second life, and surely there is a purpose behind it. They tried to kill me, but I survived—to return once again."

Stance of the Yunus Government

Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus’s government has already declared that Sheikh Hasina will be brought back to face trial.

Yunus’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, stated, "This is the government’s top priority. We will continue our efforts to extradite Sheikh Hasina so that she can be tried in person."

Expert Opinions

Experts remain divided on the issue. Michael Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center, believes, "There is a long history of dynastic politics in South Asia. Therefore, Sheikh Hasina’s return cannot be ruled out."

However, Zillur Rahman, Executive Director of the Dhaka-based Center for Governance Studies, argued, "Sheikh Hasina or her party will not be able to play any significant political role in the next decade unless the interim government fails catastrophically."

The Big Question

Will Sheikh Hasina truly be able to return, or is this the end of her political chapter? The future of Bangladesh depends on both international and regional political developments.