New Delhi: The situation took on an international dimension when former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a virtual press conference from Delhi, India’s capital. While the Bangladeshi government expressed objection to the event, a segment of the population began hoping for her return.
As Awami League supporters kept the possibility of her comeback alive, the resentment among her and the party’s opponents intensified. Furthermore, former cricketer Shakib Al Hasan faced backlash in connection with Sheikh Hasina’s Delhi press conference; some hardliners even hurled petrol bombs at his residence.
Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries resulting from this attack. The question now arises as to how the Bangladeshi media covered Sheikh Hasina’s public appearance and press conference. Most Bangladeshi news channels and newspapers focused more on the objections raised by the government than on the substance of Hasina’s statement.
How the Bangladeshi media portrayed Sheikh Hasina’s statement
As soon as former Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina joined the press conference virtually from Delhi, she became a topic of widespread discussion. The Bangladeshi media presented the event in various ways. Notably, Bangladesh Pratidin portrayed the event negatively, primarily highlighting the Bangladeshi government’s anger to the public.
Its front-page headline read: “Angry reaction over permission granted to ‘convicted’ Hasina to make a statement at the Delhi event.” Meanwhile, Prothom Alo—one of Bangladesh’s most popular newspapers did not cover Sheikh Hasina’s speech at all; instead, it gave prominence to the news of the attack on Shakib Al Hasan’s home.
Coverage highlighted the anger within a section of Bangladesh regarding the Delhi press conference, yet no news concerning Hasina’s speech appeared in Prothom Alo. Additionally, Dainik Ittefaq focused entirely on the backlash within Bangladesh against Sheikh Hasina’s statement.
It also featured comments from Bangladeshi Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed as its lead story. “Court to Decide Awami League’s Fate.” A statement by Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj, a former State Minister for Home Affairs in the Awami League government,t also featured prominently in this report.
Several Newspapers Distance Themselves from Sheikh Hasina
Many Bangladeshi newspapers did not even cover the statement made by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Kaler Kantho highlighted the displeasure felt in Dhaka, giving prominence to the strong reaction from the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry regarding the event held in Delhi. Nothing was published about what Sheikh Hasina actually said. Jugantor followed a similar approach; like Dainik Ittefaq, it gave front-page coverage to the criticism voiced by Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj.
