Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to make her first live public appearance since leaving office in August 2024, with a virtual question-and-answer session scheduled for August 5 in New Delhi. The event is expected to mark her first direct interaction with journalists in nearly two years and could provide fresh insight into her political future and plans to return to Bangladesh.
The programme is being organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia (FCC South Asia) and will be held at the Sir Mark Tully Auditorium in New Delhi, while also being streamed live on the organisation’s digital platforms. Hasina is expected to address questions from journalists on recent political developments, her time in exile, and the future of the Awami League.
According to reports, Hasina is also expected to discuss her previously stated intention to return to Bangladesh. In a recent interview, she said she hopes to return by December and present herself before the country’s courts despite the legal and political challenges she faces. She has said she is prepared to face arrest or imprisonment if necessary.
The event comes at a politically sensitive time, coinciding with the second anniversary of the August 5, 2024 uprising that led to the collapse of her government and her departure from Bangladesh. Since then, Hasina has remained in India while her party has continued political activities from abroad.
The planned appearance has also triggered diplomatic attention. The Government of Bangladesh requested clarification from New Delhi regarding the event, prompting India’s Ministry of External Affairs to state that the programme is being organised by a private entity and has no involvement or endorsement from the Indian government.
Bangladesh’s authorities have meanwhile warned domestic media outlets against broadcasting or republishing Hasina’s planned address, citing existing legal restrictions related to her public statements. The development has added another layer of tension to the already delicate relationship between Dhaka and New Delhi.
Political analysts believe Hasina’s first live Q&A since her ouster could become a significant moment in Bangladesh’s political landscape. Her remarks on returning home, the future of the Awami League, and the country’s political direction are expected to attract close attention from supporters, critics, and the international community alike.
