Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina is preparing to return to Bangladesh “with her head held high,” and her party is allegedly working on a strategy to mobilize at least 10 million supporters for a massive show of strength, according to veteran Indian journalist Gautam Lahiri.
Speaking in a recent interview on the YouTube channel Purniyar View with journalist Atikur Rahman Purniya, Lahiri discussed Bangladesh-India relations, border tensions and his recent conversation with the former premier.
Lahiri said he recently conducted a telephone interview with Hasina, during which she expressed confidence about returning to Bangladesh in the near future.
“I am not giving any specific timeline, but depending on the situation and circumstances, I will return to the country very soon. There is no doubt about that,” Lahiri quoted Hasina as saying.
According to Lahiri, the Bangladesh Awami League is now preparing for what he described as a historic political mobilization.
“The day Sheikh Hasina announces her return, there are plans for a march of at least one crore people toward Dhaka,” he said, adding that the Awami League still maintains a vast grassroots support base across Bangladesh.
Lahiri also commented on recent tensions along the Bangladesh-India border, including incidents involving India’s Border Security Force (BSF). Referring to the deteriorating bilateral atmosphere, he remarked that “one hand alone cannot clap,” suggesting that responsibility lies on both sides.
He further claimed that New Delhi expected warmer cooperation from Bangladesh after the political transition led by Tarique Rahman and the current administration, but those expectations have not been fully met.
According to Lahiri, India proposed meetings under joint working mechanisms, but Bangladesh allegedly did not respond positively. He also described recent talks over the Ganges water-sharing agreement as largely “symbolic.”
Discussing the role of the United States in Bangladesh’s recent political developments, Lahiri argued that Washington ultimately acts in its own strategic interests. He claimed the US initially backed a political roadmap involving Muhammad Yunus, but later adjusted its position after failing to achieve all of its objectives.
Referring to the visible presence of American flags on rickshaws in Dhaka, Lahiri described the phenomenon as part of an emerging “Yankee culture.”
The Indian journalist also said a major “perception battle” is currently underway in international media regarding Bangladesh’s political future. He noted that Sheikh Hasina has been actively giving interviews to Indian and global media outlets, while the opposition and the current administration have struggled to project their narratives internationally with equal effectiveness.
Lahiri added that Hasina has promised him a future interview “in person and face-to-face,” hinting that it could take place shortly before her anticipated return to Bangladesh.
