Deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina has called senior Awami League leaders staying in India to a meeting in Delhi on 18 September, her first in-person gathering with members of the party’s Central Working Committee since the ouster of her government in 2024.
Twenty-one Central Committee members currently staying in Delhi and Kolkata are expected to attend. Former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former organising secretary Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel will also be present.
Awami League Presidium Member Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya confirmed the meeting to TIMES on Monday.
“Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina will exchange views with the central leaders staying in India. There is no specific agenda for the discussion,” he said.
An organising secretary of the party based in Europe, however, said the discussions would focus mainly on the party’s organisational situation and Hasina’s possible return to Bangladesh.
“Those who are staying in India have been called. In Delhi, the former prime minister will hear directly from the leaders about the organisational situation and their opinions and advice regarding her return to the country,” he said.
Organising Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi said, “The leader has called many people. Nothing has been said in detail.”
Although Awami League activities remain banned in Bangladesh, many leaders and activists of the party and its affiliated organisations remain active on social media at home and abroad. Some operating from hiding are awaiting Hasina’s return as arrests continue and some jailed party members are released on bail.
The party has also been dissolving expired committees of different units and forming new ones. Those who remained active and faced persecution after 5 August are being given preference, while some who remained inactive are being dropped.
Party leaders say several plans are being considered for Hasina to return towards the end of the first week or the beginning of the second week of December.
Plans described as A, B and C are being discussed, including possible returns by air or land. Party leaders say several routes are under consideration and a final decision will depend on the situation.
If Hasina returns through the Petrapole-Benapole land port, Awami League is considering a “Long March to Tungipara,” involving leaders and activists from across the country.
Awami League Presidium Member Abdur Rahman told TIMES that preparations were being made for her return by both air and road.
“There are many strategic issues involved, as well as security concerns,” he said.
He said Hasina has a deep emotional attachment to Tungipara and that her route would be finalised after considering security and other strategic issues.
The former minister said hundreds of thousands of party leaders and activists would take to the streets once Hasina returned. “No programme will be necessary,” he said, adding that he believed ordinary people would also come out to see her.
Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim said the party was keeping its plans confidential.
“There are many strategic issues involved in the leader’s return. All the plans cannot be disclosed right now. The outline will be announced once it is finalised,” he said.
Party leaders also claim Hasina will hold an in-person press conference in New Delhi around mid-October to announce the route for her return.
They said Hasina and members of her party were in contact with diplomats from several countries, while some former diplomats could accompany her on the journey.
Habiganj District Awami League General Secretary Alamgir Chowdhury, who is in New York, said several thousand party leaders and activists living abroad would return with Hasina.
“Before that, everyone may go to India. Everyone is waiting for instructions,” he said.
