Awami League cancels Delhi meeting with Sheikh Hasina

The Awami League has cancelled a scheduled meeting between party president and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and senior Central Committee leaders in New Delhi, a day before the planned gathering.

The meeting was scheduled for Friday, September 18, with around 23 senior party leaders expected to attend. According to reports, the decision to cancel the meeting was taken on Thursday ( September 17), although no official reason was immediately disclosed.

The planned meeting was expected to focus primarily on Sheikh Hasina’s possible return to Bangladesh in December, as well as the party’s political, legal and organisational strategy.

The proposed gathering would have brought together senior Awami League leaders who have remained outside Bangladesh since the political upheaval of August 2024. Several Central Committee leaders currently staying in India, including Delhi and Kolkata, were expected to participate.

Northeast News, citing people familiar with the party’s internal discussions, reported that the cancellation came unexpectedly and that party leaders themselves were unclear about the reason behind the decision. The report said the meeting could potentially be rescheduled, although there was no confirmation of a new date.

The meeting had attracted attention because it was expected to be one of the most significant in-person consultations between Sheikh Hasina and senior party leaders since her departure from Bangladesh.

Earlier reports had confirmed that Sheikh Hasina had called the leaders to Delhi for discussions on the party’s future course and her possible return to Bangladesh.

The latest development comes amid continued political and diplomatic discussions surrounding Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India and the future of the Awami League.

-AAH