Social media platforms, particularly Facebook, were flooded on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, with unconfirmed reports and conspiracy theories claiming the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, who has been in self-imposed exile in India since her ousting in August 2024. As of this report, there has been no credible confirmation or denial from official sources in either Bangladesh or India, or from the Awami League party itself.
The Current Swirl of Speculation
The latest wave of rumours, which started early Tuesday morning, suggests various unverified dates and causes of death, including a heart attack following her loss of power and a more recent date in mid-October. The misinformation campaign has been amplified by the circulation of crudely edited images of Awami League press releases expressing “condolences,” adding a layer of confusion to the digital landscape.
Adding fuel to the fire, a growing number of netizens speculate that the Awami League is deliberately suppressing the news of her death—claiming that her passing would demoralise party loyalists and that her voice in leaked audio calls, where she is purportedly planning to destabilise Bangladesh, is either AI-generated or pre-recorded.
A Year of Seclusion Since the Uprising
Sheikh Hasina’s dramatic exit occurred on August 5, 2024, amidst the sweeping Student-People’s Uprising (also known as the July Revolution). She was seen departing from Dhaka on a helicopter, a flight that eventually took her to India aboard a Bangladesh Air Force transport aircraft (Flight AJAX 1431). This moment marked the end of her 15-year consecutive rule.
Following her exile, the former Prime Minister has maintained an unusually low public profile, which has only intensified the current speculations.
- Absence from Public View: Despite seeking asylum in India and retaining the presidency of the Awami League, she has largely remained out of the public eye. Unofficial reports suggest she has not been seen in public since August 5, 2024. This extended seclusion has been interpreted by some as a self-imposed “quarantine,” with claims that she even avoids meeting the thousands of party workers who also fled to India.
- Digital Communication Only: While she has been accused by the interim government in Dhaka of using platforms like Telegram and Zoom to meet with party operatives and plan acts of destabilisation and anarchy—clips of which have allegedly been leaked—these communications have reportedly been audio-only. Her consistent refusal to appear on video calls has been a major factor in perpetuating the current mystery surrounding her health and location.
- Legal & Political Context: The former premier has been the subject of an extradition request from the current government in Dhaka, and her trial in absentia for alleged crimes against humanity is ongoing in Bangladesh. The looming court verdict, scheduled for November 13, 2025, adds a further high-stakes element to her current status.
Fact-Check Verdict: Unverified
As of Tuesday evening, the rumours of Sheikh Hasina’s death remain unverified. The silence from the Awami League’s official social media channels or spokespersons on this matter has created a vacuum, which is rapidly being filled by unconfirmed reports and conspiracy theories.
This developing story underscores the highly charged political atmosphere in Bangladesh and the power of social media to quickly disseminate both legitimate information and potentially harmful misinformation.
