Bangladesh’s former ​Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said ‌on Wednesday (August 5, 2026) that the ​ban on ⁠her Awami League party should be lifted and ‌reiterated that she would return to her ‌country.

Ms. Hasina’s comments ‌were ⁠made during a ⁠media interaction hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of ​South Asia ‌in New Delhi — on the second anniversary of her ouster in ‌2024.

Ms. Hasina had been ​expected to address the event ⁠virtually by video but delivered only an audio ‌message. It was not immediately clear why she did not appear on video, unlike her party colleagues ‌and her son, who ​spoke before her.

It was her first ⁠such interaction with the ⁠media since her ouster.

Amidst tense bilateral ties, Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman has invited Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to visit Dhaka. The invitation was extended by the Bangladesh side during a meeting between the two NSAs that took place in New Delhi on Wednesday (November 19, 2025) ahead of the 7th Meeting of the National Security Advisers of the Colombo Security Conclave on Thursday (November 20, 2025).

The visit of the team from Bangladesh which is being led by Mr. Rahman has drawn attention as it commenced a day after the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) delivered death sentence for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who is in exile in India. The meeting between Mr. Doval and Mr. Rahman discussed, “key bilateral issues” said, a press release from the High Commission of Bangladesh.

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Mr. Doval will host his counterparts from Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the Colombo Security Conclave, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an announcement. The meeting will also witness participation by Seychelles as an ‘Observer State’. Malaysia has been invited as a Guest, the MEA has said.

The meeting of the National Security Advisers and other security-related officials from the member countries of the Colombo Security Conclave will review activities under the categories of “Maritime Safety and Security; Countering Terrorism and Radicalisation; Combating Transnational Organised Crime; Cyber Security and Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief”, said the MEA in its statement.

The officials will also firm up the Roadmap and Action Plan for 2026.