E Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's India Address: Return, Elections, Yunus, BNP — 10 Big Things To Expect

Published 5 August 2026 · local

News world E Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's India Address: Return, Elections, Yunus, BNP — 10 Big Things To Expect E Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's India

News world E Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's India Address: Return, Elections, Yunus, BNP — 10 Big Things To Expect E Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's India Address: Return, Elections, Yunus, BNP — 10 Big Things To Expect Published By, Last Updated: August 05, 2026, 16:55 IST Sheikh Hasina's speech comes at a time of heightened political tensions between India and Bangladesh. Dhaka has warned its media not to broadcast her address. Sheikh Hasina to make her first public appearance since the 2024 unrest in Bangladesh | File image Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to make her first public appearance today since being ousted from power, addressing an event in New Delhi on the second anniversary of her removal. The speech comes at a time of heightened political tensions between India and Bangladesh. Dhaka has warned its media not to broadcast her address, while India has clarified that the event is being organised by a private entity and does not represent the Indian government’s position. The address is expected to be closely watched in both countries, with observers looking for signals about Hasina’s political future and Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape. Will she announce her return to Bangladesh? One of the biggest questions is whether Hasina will outline a roadmap for returning to Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina has repeatedly said she plans to return to Bangladesh despite the legal challenges she faces. According to Reuters, she said in interviews in late June and again in July that she intended to return around December 2026. In those interviews, Hasina said her return would be voluntary and linked to restoring political space for the Awami League and participating in the country’s future politics.

She also said she was prepared to face arrest or even death upon her return and described the legal cases against her as politically motivated. Reports suggest today’s address could focus on her plans for a political comeback. She has also vowed to return later this year. What will she say about the Dhaka govt? Her comments on Bangladesh’s current leadership will be closely monitored. Hasina’s earlier remarks from India were sharply critical of Muhammad Yunus’s interim government. She has also been highly critical of Tarique Rahman and the BNP, portraying them as representing the old politics of corruption, instability and anti-democratic rule. In recent comments, she said Tarique’s return to Bangladeshi politics was not “renewal or reform" but a return to a system that Bangladesh had already paid a heavy price for. Hasina has linked Tarique Rahman and the BNP to corruption and money laundering, saying the Zia family’s political legacy is tied to “massive corruption". She has also argued that BNP politics is associated with violence and militancy, particularly during the BNP-Jamaat era. Today, she is expected to speak about the political situation in Bangladesh, stress the need to restore democracy and outline her future political plans. She has also indicated that she intends to return to Dhaka. Any fresh criticism could further increase political tensions. Message for the Awami League The address could also serve as a message to Awami League leaders and supporters after nearly two years of political uncertainty. If she calls for party mobilisation, the speech could become much more than a personal address and signal a political reset for the party.