Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina answered journalists’ questions by audio after an expected video press conference appearance did not take place, according to the report. Subrata Acharya, editor of Indian outlet Prothom Kolkata, questioned how much people would trust Hasina’s declaration that she would return to Bangladesh by December. He made the comments in a Facebook video message on Wednesday night.

Acharya said many viewers had joined Facebook expecting to see Hasina directly on video after two years. Pro-Awami League media outlets had also said she would join virtually and answer reporters’ questions. He said live viewership was about 206,000 when Hasina began speaking, but fell by roughly 44,000 to 162,000 within 10 minutes after viewers realized she was not on video.

Hasina faced journalists on August 5 at an event of the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia in Delhi, attended by her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and several Awami League figures. Acharya said her return pledge, despite stated risks of arrest, imprisonment or threats to her life, appeared to be a political message because no clear legal, organizational or security plan had been presented.