Sheikh Hasina's Anticipated Public Address from Exile
Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was removed from power in 2024 following widespread protests and subsequently sought refuge in India, is scheduled to deliver a public address from New Delhi. This appearance, slated for Wednesday, marks a significant moment as it will be one of her first public statements since her departure from Bangladesh. The 78-year-old is expected to participate via videolink in an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) of South Asia. She will be joined by her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and other prominent figures from her Awami League party, including former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel.
Hasina's address comes at a critical juncture, as Dhaka continues its efforts to secure her extradition from India. A death sentence was imposed on her in absentia last year, stemming from accusations that she ordered security forces to fire on protesters. India, however, has permitted her to remain within its borders and has resisted extradition attempts. New Delhi has clarified that it has no involvement in organizing the virtual speech, asserting that the event is being managed by a private media organization. In response, Bangladeshi authorities have banned local media outlets from broadcasting her speech. Abu Obaidha Arin, an aide to Hasina, criticized this ban, stating that Dhaka's attempts to suppress dissent would not silence voices beyond the nation's boundaries.
The Circumstances of Hasina's Exile
Sheikh Hasina has been residing in self-imposed exile in New Delhi since August 2024, when student-led protests led to the downfall of her Awami League government. Following her departure, a caretaker government assumed control, paving the way for elections held earlier this year. Hasina faces accusations of orchestrating a brutal crackdown on protesters, with allegations including directives to security forces to 'shoot them.' In 2025, she was convicted in absentia and sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, a judgment she has consistently dismissed as 'legally void.' Reports indicate that approximately 1,400 individuals lost their lives and over 20,000 sustained injuries during the crackdown. An official inquiry by Bangladesh's interim government also sought the death penalty for her in connection with these events, as well as for 1,500 cases of enforced disappearances that allegedly occurred during her 17-year tenure. Many of those detained were reportedly political adversaries from parties such as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami.
Bangladesh's Reaction to the Planned Speech
The Bangladeshi government has explicitly prohibited domestic media from broadcasting Sheikh Hasina's upcoming speech. This is not the first instance of such a ban; in January, Hasina delivered an audio address to a large audience at the FCC in New Delhi. During that address, she accused Muhammad Yunus, who then headed Bangladesh's interim government, of being a 'murderous fascist' and contended that Bangladesh would 'never experience free and fair elections' under his leadership. This previous address, broadcast online, garnered over 100,000 listeners. Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed 'surprise and shock' that India had allowed her to deliver the speech. In a statement issued on Sunday regarding the January address, the Ministry asserted that permitting the event in the Indian capital and allowing 'mass murderer Hasina' to deliver 'hate speech' constituted a 'clear affront to the people and the Government of Bangladesh.' The Ministry further claimed that Hasina had 'openly called for the removal' of the interim government and issued 'blatant incitements to her party loyalists and the general public to carry out acts of terror' aimed at disrupting the elections held on February 12 this year.
For numerous families who suffered losses during the 2024 protests, the question of whether the deposed prime minister will face justice remains paramount. Shaina Begum, whose 20-year-old son Sajjat Hosen Sojal was shot and his body burned by police just hours before Hasina's resignation, articulated her desire for justice, stating, 'I cannot be calm until she [Hasina] is brought back and hanged in this country,' following the announcement of the former leader's death sentence.
Anticipated Content of Hasina's Address
Hasina's speech is expected to commemorate the two-year anniversary of her government's collapse on August 5, 2024, when she fled to India by helicopter. The event, titled 'Sheikh Hasina’s homecoming,' is anticipated to provide insights into her future political intentions. Last month, Hasina indicated that she and other Awami League leaders intended to return from exile in December this year to present themselves in court. Speaking to AFP, she acknowledged the risks, stating, 'I may be killed. I may be arrested. I may be sent to prison. I am fully aware of my fate. Still, I want to go back because my people are calling me.' Some observers interpret her planned return, despite the death sentence, as an attempt to maintain political relevance and revitalize her party, which was prohibited from participating in this year's elections. The BNP, led by Tarique Rahman, secured a two-thirds majority in those elections.
Smruti Pattanaik, a research fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses in New Delhi, suggests that Hasina's announcement of her return is likely intended to mobilize Awami League members and offer them direction. Pattanaik believes that returning to Bangladesh 'will allow her party to project that it is not scared to face the charges.' She added that for the Awami League to endure, 'the leadership needs to think of the party’s future rather than individual gain.' Sreeradha Datta, a lecturer in international affairs at OP Jindal Global University in Sonipat, India, anticipates that Hasina will deliver a 'motivational speech' to her supporters ahead of her return. Datta noted that 'Ninety-nine percent of the Awami League leadership has fled,' and their return aims to rekindle trust among supporters. The current government under Rahman is unlikely to welcome her back, especially given that Rahman's mother, former leader Khaleda Zia, spent years in jail on corruption charges during Hasina's rule, which the BNP claims were politically motivated. Some analysts caution that Hasina's return, given her substantial following, could lead to political instability. Datta remarked that 'Using the August 5th [anniversary] will not go down well,' and that the sentiment that fueled the July uprisings leading to Hasina's ousting still persists. 'There are many martyred families who haven’t forgotten those horrible days and the heinous acts of the security forces,' she added.
India's Position on Extradition
Dhaka has repeatedly requested Hasina's extradition, and New Delhi has indicated that the request is undergoing legal review. In November of last year, the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry invoked an extradition agreement with India, arguing that it was an 'obligatory responsibility' for New Delhi to ensure Hasina's deportation. The Ministry further stated that continuing to provide refuge to Hasina 'would be a highly unfriendly act and a disregard for justice.' However, India has historically been viewed as a strong ally of Hasina and is believed to be hesitant to force her return. During her leadership, India benefited from significant economic and security cooperation with Bangladesh, including lucrative agreements in energy, trade infrastructure, and defense.
Political analysts in India suggested last November that an exception within the extradition treaty applies when the offense is 'of a political character.' Sanjay Bhardwaj, a professor of South Asian studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, stated that 'India understands this [Hasina’s case] to be political vindictiveness of the ruling political forces in Bangladesh.' Bhardwaj further noted that, in India's perception, Bangladesh is currently governed by 'anti-India forces.' The former interim leader, Yunus, frequently criticized India, and leaders of the protest movement that led to Hasina's ousting have often attributed New Delhi's support for the former prime minister. Nonetheless, India-Bangladesh relations have seen improvement since Rahman assumed the premiership in February, with India extending an invitation to him for a BRICS summit in September. Dhaka had previously requested New Delhi to clarify its stance on Hasina's planned address, warning that allowing political activities by a fugitive could negatively impact bilateral ties. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, reiterated on Tuesday that the event is being organized by a private media entity. 'The government has no involvement whatsoever in it, neither does it endorse any views that may be expressed at the forum,' he stated during a media briefing.
