Sheikh Hasina Slams 'Weaponised' 2024 Protests in Delhi Address

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina broke her silence on August 7, 2026, during a virtual press conference hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia in New Delhi. This marked her first formal address since her ouster in August 2024. During the session, she repeatedly broke down while remembering her family and her father. Hasina alleged that the 2024 protests, which eventually led to her departure, were systematically weaponised by external and internal actors to topple her democratically elected government. She maintained that the movement was not a spontaneous uprising but a calculated political maneuver.

The interim administration in Bangladesh responded with sharp condemnation, describing Hasina's remarks as a direct affront to the country's sovereignty. Officials in Dhaka termed her accusations a grievous insult to those who died during the July uprising. Bangladesh has warned that such statements could have significant ramifications on bilateral ties with India. They view her presence in Delhi and her access to a media platform as a provocative act that undermines the transition of power and the legitimacy of the current governing structures in Bangladesh.

Indian government officials have moved quickly to distance the state from the event to manage the diplomatic fallout. The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that the Indian government was not involved in facilitating the press event. They reiterated that the Foreign Correspondents Club is a private entity and Hasina's address was a private engagement. India faces a complex balancing act as it continues to host the exiled leader while attempting to maintain stable working relations with the new administration in Dhaka amidst increasing pressure from the Bangladeshi public.