Sheikh Hasina delivered a live virtual address from New Delhi on Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted her [1].
The address marks the first time the former prime minister has spoken publicly in nearly two years [2]. Her comments challenge the narrative of the 2024 unrest, suggesting the events were not a spontaneous student movement but a coordinated effort to seize power.
Hasina, who led Bangladesh for 15 years before her removal [2], used the platform to argue that the protests were manufactured. She said, "It was organised, directed and used to create a path to power outside ballot box" [2].
The broadcast took place while Hasina remains in exile in India. The current government in Bangladesh previously warned domestic media outlets against airing the planned address [3].
Legal pressures continue to mount for the former leader. Hasina currently faces a death sentence issued by authorities in Bangladesh [4]. The virtual address serves as her first significant public communication since her departure from office during the 2024 unrest.
Throughout the address, Hasina said the uprising was a plot to bypass the electoral process [2]. This position contradicts the widely reported view of the 2024 protests as a student-led movement against her administration's policies and governance.
“"It was organised, directed and used to create a path to power outside ballot box"”
This address represents a strategic attempt by Sheikh Hasina to delegitimize the 2024 uprising and frame her removal as a political conspiracy rather than a popular revolt. By speaking from New Delhi, she underscores her continued reliance on Indian sanctuary while challenging the legal and political legitimacy of the current Bangladeshi administration.
