Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said she remains determined to return to the country from exile in India in December, despite being sentenced to death over her government’s deadly crackdown on protesters in 2024.

In an email interview with The Associated Press, Hasina said her decision to return had not changed, even though she could face arrest and possible imprisonment upon arrival.

“If death is my destiny, I would rather die on the soil of my own country, among my own people,” she told the AP. “So, I will return to Bangladesh. That decision has not changed.”

The AP said it had sent questions to Hasina last week and received her responses on Wednesday. She first announced in August that she intended to return in December but did not disclose how she planned to travel from India.

Hasina, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2024, fled to India after student-led protests forced her from power. She has remained there since.

A Bangladeshi special tribunal sentenced her to death in 2025 for crimes against humanity, ruling that she was responsible for ordering the crackdown on protesters. Hundreds were killed and thousands injured. A United Nations report put the death toll at nearly 1,400.

Hasina denies wrongdoing and has rejected the tribunal’s verdict, questioning the legitimacy of the trial. Bangladesh has repeatedly sought her extradition, but India has not handed her over.

“I know that I may be arrested when I return. I may be imprisoned, tortured or even killed. I am fully aware of those possibilities,” she told the AP. “But I cannot spend the rest of my life watching my people suffer from a distance.”

After her removal from power, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus led an interim administration for 18 months. In February, Tarique Rahman, son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and a longtime political rival of Hasina, swept to power in an election held under the interim government.

Hasina’s Awami League was barred from contesting the election. The party remains banned, while several of its senior leaders have been arrested or forced into exile.

Hasina alleged that at least 20,000 party members had been killed since August 2024, while thousands more had been arrested, tortured or driven into hiding. She also said supporters had lost their homes, businesses and livelihoods because of their political affiliations.

“There is no normal political or democratic environment,” she said, accusing the authorities of systematically suppressing the party.

Several rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have criticised Rahman’s government over concerns about civil and political rights. Rights groups and independent observers had also raised concerns during the interim administration about the growing influence of radical groups and attempts to suppress liberal forces. Minority communities reported intimidation.

The Yunus-led administration denied those allegations. The current government has also faced criticism over the deteriorating law and order situation.

Hasina, who took a tough stance against radical groups during her 15 years in power, said she was concerned about the growing influence of hard-line elements.

“The present political environment has allowed extremist elements to become more confident,” she told the AP.

Asked whether she expected countries such as the United States and India to pressure Bangladesh to ensure her safe return, Hasina said she did not seek protection from foreign powers.

“I value friendship and cooperation with all nations. That has always been our (Bangladesh’s) foreign policy. But I do not need the blessing of a foreign power to return to my own country,” she said.

The Press Wing of the prime minister’s office did not respond to the AP’s request for comment.