Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who took refuge in India after being ousted from power, is set to face the media for the first time in the national capital. The event comes nearly two years after her government was ousted amid massive student protests in Bangladesh. The event will be organised virtually by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia (FCC South Asia) in Delhi. Hasina is expected to talk about her future plans and plans to return to Bangladesh.
Discussion in Mark Tully Auditorium
The conversation will take place on August 5 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at the Sir Mark Tully Auditorium on Mathura Road here and will also be livestreamed on the club’s social media platforms. The event is being organised to mark the two-year anniversary of the end of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule.
It is noteworthy that on August 5, 2024, student-led protests against the controversial quota system escalated into a nationwide anti-government movement, forcing Hasina to relinquish power. Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh for India after protesters vandalized government buildings in Dhaka, abruptly ending her nearly 16-year rule.
First address after leaving office
Sheikh Hasina has refrained from public events and formal media interactions since arriving in India. Her upcoming address is considered her most important public appearance since leaving office. The invitation list includes the names of several Bangladeshi political leaders, diplomats, and public figures who are expected to attend the event with Hasina.
These celebrities will be included in the discussion
- Hasina’s son, former ICT advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy
- Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, former education minister of Bangladesh
- Aminul Haque Polash, former diplomat and security analyst
- Shakib Al Hasan, former Bangladesh cricketer and former Member of Parliament
- Political and counter-terrorism analyst Abu Obaida Arin
- Mohammad Ali Siddiqui, Secretary General of Bangladesh Human Rights Watch
- Shah Mohammad Bakhtiar, Bangladesh Director of Human Rights Watch USA
Wael Awad will preside.
The event will be chaired by Dr. Wael Awwad, President of FCC South Asia and the International Association of Press Clubs (IAPC). The political landscape in Bangladesh has changed significantly since Hasina’s ouster. The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus ended its term after the February 2026 general elections, paving the way for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government led by Prime Minister Tariq Rahman.
When will Hasina return to Bangladesh ?
The new government has continued legal action against several leaders of the previous Awami League government, while the party’s political activities remain banned under the country’s anti-terrorism law until the court proceedings are completed. Sheikh Hasina has repeatedly spoken about returning to Bangladesh, but has not yet announced a timeline for her return.