Ousted Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to speak about her plans to return home during her first virtual interaction with the media in New Delhi on Wednesday, exactly two years after she fled Dhaka following the fall of her government.

The 78-year-old former prime minister is scheduled to address a virtual news conference hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) on the evening of August 5. The event has been billed by organisers as one at which Hasina will “announce her homecoming and outline her vision for Bangladesh.”

Daily Waadaa spoke to Dr Waiel S H Awwad, president of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, about the event, Hasina’s participation and the FCC’s decision to provide her with a platform.

Here is an excerpt of that conversation.

Daily Waadaa: The Foreign Correspondents’ Club is organising an event titled “Sheikh Hasina’s Homecoming,” and the announcement says Sheikh Hasina will speak at the programme on August 5. Will she attend in person?

Waiel S H Awwad: No. It will be a live audio interview. She will not show her face.

Waadaa: So there will be no video appearance?

Awwad: No.

Waadaa: Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced Hasina to death, making her a convicted person. The FCC is presumably aware of that. Why has the club decided to provide a platform to a convicted former head of government?

Awwad: We believe in freedom of expression, press freedom and open dialogue. We are not here to endorse any political party or agenda. We simply provide a platform for informed discussion and facilitate access to newsmakers whose decisions and experiences have shaped regional and international affairs.

We have hosted leaders from across the region before. We have had people from the Maldives, including presidents, as well as leaders from Nepal and Sri Lanka. We have presented different points of view, so we have no problem providing a platform to anyone.

In fact, I have twice invited the Bangladesh high commissioner to speak at our club, take questions from journalists and present Bangladesh’s point of view. I have been asking him to come since January 19 — well before I invited the former prime minister or made any announcement about her appearance. But he never came.

Waadaa: Just a few days ago, India’s parliamentary committee on external affairs recommended that Hasina should not be given space to conduct political activities from India. Do you think providing her with a platform to speak could contradict that position?

Awwad: I don't think it should create any problem because we are independent. We do not involve ourselves in controversial political issues.

It is no secret that she is present in India. Everybody knows that she has been in India, and this is not the first time. She was also in India during the 1980s.

I don't see this as a problem because she represents a political party that was one of the largest parties in Bangladesh and ruled the country for decades. Precisely because of this complexity, it is important for us as journalists to hear directly from the leader.

This is not about taking sides or influencing a political outcome. We are facilitators. Government-to-government issues can be dealt with by the respective governments. We respect the government, and they can respect our point of view.

Our role is to allow journalists and the public to hear what is being said and draw their own conclusions. Why should we become the voice of any political party?

Waadaa: Have you faced any restrictions or objections from the Indian government over organising the event? Has anyone from the executive or any other branch of government contacted the FCC about it?

Awwad: Not at all.

Hasina has said that she is going to announce her return to Bangladesh. If she is announcing her return to Bangladesh, fair enough. Let the Bangladeshi people make their decision, and let the courts in Bangladesh deal with the cases against her and determine whether she is guilty or not. Let the rule of law prevail.

We do not subscribe to anybody's political position. Let different points of view be heard, and let her have a voice to present herself and her party. You cannot neglect or ignore a large section of Bangladeshi society because of the influence of other people.

Waadaa: Several other people have been listed as participants in the programme. Who among them will attend in person?

Awwad: Muhibul Hasan Chowdhury, the former education minister in Hasina’s cabinet, will attend in person. Former diplomat Aminul Haque Polash and Mohammad Ali Siddique, general secretary of Bangladesh Human Rights Watch, will also be there in person.

Shakib Al Hasan, the former MP and cricket star, and Sajeeb Wazed, Sheikh Hasina’s son, will join virtually.

The two other participants — Abu Obaida Arin, a writer and political analyst, and Shag Md Bakhtiar, director of Bangladesh Human Rights Watch USA — will also participate virtually.

Waadaa: Will there be a question-and-answer session? Will journalists be able to put questions directly to Hasina?

Awwad: Yes. Journalists and members of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club will be able to ask questions, including questions to Sheikh Hasina.

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