Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the interim government, has described how he gathered and verified information that Sheikh Hasina had left Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, before AFP published the report. In an article published on August 5, 2026, Alam said he was receiving reports around 11 a.m. of crowds moving toward Ganabhaban from Shonir Akhra, Jatrabari and Uttara. He described the situation around his Karwan Bazar office as tense and largely deserted.
After 12:30 p.m., Alam said a source at the Prime Minister’s Office told him Hasina had flown to India. The source later said SSF members had taken her away amid information about large crowds approaching from Uttara and Jatrabari. According to Alam’s account, the original airport route was abandoned after reports that some people from Uttara had entered the airport, and a helicopter departure from Tejgaon Old Airport was chosen.
Alam said AFP’s South Asia editor Peter Martell initially declined to publish the report on a single source and urged further verification. After speaking with two additional sources, Alam confirmed the information. AFP issued a breaking-news report after 1 p.m., which clients in Bangladesh and abroad began citing. Alam said BTV’s announcement around 2 p.m. that the army chief would address the nation eased his anxiety.
শফিকুল আলম প্রকাশ : ০৫ আগস্ট ২০২৬, ১০: ৪৯ হাসিনা পালিয়ে যাওয়ার খবরটি সবার আগে প্রকাশ করা আমার সাংবাদিকতা জীবনের সেরা কাজ হিসেবে মনে করি। খবরটি প্রকাশের মধ্যে বড় ধরনের ঝুঁকি ছিল। কিন্তু সাংবাদিক হিসেবে সে ঝুঁকি নিতে আমি দ্বিধা করিনি। ২০২৪ সালের ৫ আগস
The ‘1 Nojor’ media platform is now live in beta, inviting users to explore and provide feedback as we continue to refine the experience.
