Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will make her first live public media appearance in nearly two years on Tuesday. She will address an international press conference virtually from India. The Foreign Correspondents' Club (FCC) South Asia in New Delhi is organising the event. It will begin at 6 pm IST at the Sir Mark Tully Auditorium.
The press conference coincides with the second anniversary of Hasina's departure from Dhaka on August 5, 2024, after a student-led uprising ended her 15-year tenure as prime minister. The Bangladesh Awami League said the event will be interactive and allow journalists from across the world to ask Hasina questions directly.
Hasina Expected to Speak About Return to Bangladesh
According to the organisers, Hasina is expected to discuss her plans to return to Bangladesh despite the legal cases pending against her in Dhaka. She is also likely to outline her political vision and explain the future roadmap of the Awami League.
Waiel Awwad, President of FCC South Asia, will moderate the discussion. The programme will include a live question-and-answer session with international journalists.
Senior Awami League Leaders to Join Event
Several senior leaders of the Awami League are expected to participate in the programme. These include Hasina's son and former ICT adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, and former Bangladesh cricketer and Awami League MP Shakib Al Hasan.
The organisers said the 90-minute event will be livestreamed on the club's digital platforms.
Bangladesh's Political Landscape Has Changed
Hasina has been living in India since leaving Bangladesh in August 2024. Later, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her in absentia over the government's handling of the 2024 protests.
Hasina has rejected both the tribunal's authority and its verdict. Since her departure, Bangladesh has witnessed major political changes. After an interim administration governed the country, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) returned to power following the February 2026 general elections. Tarique Rahman became the country's prime minister.
Dhaka Raises Concerns Over Hasina's Activities
Reports suggest that Bangladesh has asked India to prevent exiled Bangladeshi leaders from delivering political speeches from Indian territory. Dhaka has also issued advisories to local media regarding coverage of Hasina's political activities.
However, Indian officials have clarified that Tuesday's press conference is not a government event. They described it as a private programme organised by an independent association of foreign journalists.
First Live Media Interaction in Nearly Two Years
Since leaving Bangladesh, Hasina has rarely appeared in public. She has mainly communicated through written statements, recorded audio messages and a few print interviews. Tuesday's event will mark her first live and interactive engagement with the international media since leaving Bangladesh.
The Awami League said Hasina will use the platform to present her vision for Bangladesh, respond to the allegations against her and reaffirm her intention to return to active politics in the country.