Fact Check: Viral Photo Falsely Claims to Show Ex-PM Hasina’s Delhi Press Conference
NEW DELHI, India – A recent surge of social media posts purporting to show Bangladesh’s exiled former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, at a press conference in New Delhi on August 5th, has been debunked as false. While Hasina did address a packed press club virtually, two years after her ousting in a student uprising, the accompanying image is an old photograph taken in Dhaka, and her recent remarks were broadcast solely via audio.
The misleading image, widely circulated on platforms like Facebook with captions such as "All praise is due to Allah. Sheikh Hasina made her appearance in public. Photo of the news conference in Delhi," depicts Hasina in what appears to be a garden setting, surrounded by individuals, with one woman taking photographs. These posts gained traction following Hasina’s first public remarks since fleeing Bangladesh, creating a false visual narrative around the event.
On August 5th, Hasina addressed the Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) of South Asia, delivering a resolute message that she intends to return to her country in December, regardless of potential imprisonment. "Fear cannot decide" her "duty to the people," she asserted, reiterating sentiments from a July interview with AFP where she expressed a desire to return by year’s end.
The virtual address from the fugitive ex-prime minister has sparked diplomatic tensions. India’s foreign ministry spokesman, Randhir Jaiswal, clarified New Delhi’s stance, stating, "government has no involvement whatsoever in it, neither does it endorse any views that may be expressed." However, Dhaka’s foreign ministry expressed strong disapproval, calling the allowance for Hasina to speak publicly "deeply hurtful to our people’s sentiment and detrimental to the development of harmonious bilateral relations."
Hasina’s situation is complex and highly charged. In November 2025, a court in Dhaka found her guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced her to death, following a period of intense political unrest where thousands lost their lives as she attempted to maintain power. Bangladesh has formally requested her extradition, a matter which New Delhi has stated remains "under examination."
Despite the gravity of these political developments, the visual evidence circulating online regarding her recent appearance is inaccurate. A reverse image search revealed that the photograph in question was shared on the official Facebook page of Hasina’s party, the Awami League, on December 20, 2022. The caption from that time identifies the scene as featuring "Famous French photographer Anne de Henning with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina."
Further details from the 2022 post indicate that Hasina, along with her younger sister, daughter, and nephew, was interacting with de Henning. Local media reports from that period confirm de Henning’s presence in Dhaka for a solo exhibition at the Liberation War Museum. The exhibition showcased photographs de Henning had taken during Bangladesh’s liberation war from Pakistan between 1971 and 1972, a poignant period in the nation’s history. Her return coincided with Bangladesh commemorating its 50th year of independence.
AFP, a leading news agency, attempted to contact de Henning for comment but did not receive an immediate response. This incident is not the first time misinformation has spread regarding Bangladesh politics, with AFP having previously debunked similar false claims. The circulation of such misleading imagery underscores the importance of verifying information, especially in politically sensitive contexts.
