Two Years After Ouster, Sheikh Hasina Set for First Public Event in India

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will make her first public media appearance in India since being ousted from power nearly two years ago, addressing a virtual event in New Delhi on August 5.

Organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia (FCC South Asia), the programme is expected to see Hasina speak about the political situation in Bangladesh, her future plans, and the possibility of returning to the country.

The event will be held from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at the Sir Mark Tully Auditorium on Mathura Road in New Delhi and will be livestreamed on the club’s social media platforms.

FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE SINCE LEAVING POWER

The event coincides with the second anniversary of the political upheaval that brought an end to Hasina’s 15-year tenure in office. On August 5, 2024, protests that began over Bangladesh’s government job quota system grew into a nationwide movement, eventually forcing Hasina to flee the country after protesters overran key government installations in Dhaka.

Hasina has remained in India since then, keeping a low public profile and avoiding major media engagements. Her August 5 address is expected to be her first significant public appearance since leaving Bangladesh.

KEY BANGLADESHI FIGURES TO JOIN PROGRAMME

The organisers have invited several prominent Bangladeshi politicians, diplomats and public personalities to participate in the discussion.

The list includes Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Hasina’s son and former ICT adviser to the prime minister; former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel; Bangladesh Human Rights Watch General Secretary Mahammad Ali Siddique; former Bangladesh cricketer and ex-MP Shakib Al Hasan; former diplomat and security analyst Aminul Hoque Polash; political analyst Abu Obaidha Arin; and Shah Md Bakhtiar, Director of Bangladesh Human Rights Watch USA.

The session will be chaired by Dr Waiel Awwad, President of FCC South Asia and the International Association of Press Clubs (IAPC).

BANGLADESH’S POLITICAL TRANSITION

Bangladesh’s political landscape has changed considerably since Hasina’s departure. The interim administration headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus concluded after the February 2026 general election, which brought the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to power under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

The new government has continued legal action against several leaders of the former Awami League administration. The Awami League’s political activities also remain suspended under Bangladesh’s anti-terrorism law while related court proceedings continue.