Deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina appears to be laying the groundwork for a political comeback, as her Awami League seeks to navigate one of the most contentious questions arising from the 2024 uprising that ended its rule: whether the party should apologise for alleged killings during the protests.
Senior Awami League leaders say the party is unlikely to issue a formal apology at this stage. Instead, it is expected to call for internationally credible investigations into the violence and press for the findings to be made public.
“The people should be allowed to judge the facts for themselves,” a senior party leader told TIMES of Bangladesh on condition of anonymity, arguing that voters would ultimately determine the party’s political accountability.
Through calculated announcements, controlled mobilisations, and diplomatic manoeuvring, Hasina seems determined to rebuild her party’s strength and restore its political relevance, both within Bangladesh and on the international stage, multiple AL leaders confirmed to TIMES.
In recent days, leaders and activists from the student and youth wings of Awami League, which faces ban on its political activities, held rallies and marches across the country, signalling a strategy to reassert the party’s relevance while avoiding direct confrontation with the current government. Analysts say these moves reflect a calculated effort to regain political influence in the country.
The AL high command is aware that party leaders and activists face a high risk of arrest if they participate in rallies or street protests at this time. Within the party, some members consider detention a safer option, believing that with widespread arrests, prison capacity may be stretched. They expect that after a short period, they could secure bail and return to a normal life.
Hasina, who went into exile in India following the 2024 uprising, is reportedly planning to return to face the judicial system at home. According to recently published report in TIMES, she intends to apply for a travel pass at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi—a move that has already sparked widespread discussion both domestically and internationally.
A party insider suggests that while her announcement has heightened political tensions in Bangladesh, it has also energised her party’s grassroots network. Despite many senior leaders being in exile or imprisoned, Hasina maintains continuous contact with activists at all levels, ensuring the party remains coordinated.
Following the 2024 ouster, AL faced international isolation, with relations deteriorating with almost all countries except India. Over the past two years, Hasina has sought to repair the party’s image abroad. She is pursuing diplomatic engagement to counter narratives linking her party to past human rights violations, mass killings, and corruption, while carefully cultivating new international allies.
AL sources believe that Hasina knows returning to Bangladesh will not be straightforward. If the current government objects, the High Commission may withhold the travel pass, and India is unlikely to facilitate a forced entry across the border. Nevertheless, the very act of applying for the pass could attract global media attention, as no country can legally prevent a citizen from returning home.
Analysts note that international actors, including India, who could negotiate on behalf of the party, are expected to monitor the new Tarique Rahman-led government closely. They are likely to adopt a cautious, gradual approach until political stability returns in Bangladesh. This window also allows Hasina to reorganise her party, showcase its presence on the streets, and pursue legal and legislative avenues to strengthen its position.
