Dhaka's ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is planning consultations with political parties that participated in the 2024 anti-government protests — the demonstrations that brought down the Awami League regime — in a move widely seen as an effort to consolidate the anti-Awami League coalition ahead of a potentially seismic development: the announced possible return of deposed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from exile. The outreach, reported by Bangladesh's The Business Standard, is timed to what observers describe as a critical juncture in the country's post-uprising politics.

The BNP's Outreach Plan

More than 40 political parties that joined the 2024 protests may be invited for talks, reportedly scheduled for late November or December 2025. According to the report, 'differences over various political issues — particularly around the national election — have widened the distance' among these parties, prompting the BNP's initiative to 'resolve misunderstandings through discussions with partners.'

Consultations are expected to focus on the BNP's 31-point reform agenda, proposed constitutional changes, implementation of the July Charter, local government election plans, and broader political cooperation. Notably, the party led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not extend invitations to parties affiliated with the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance.

The Jamaat Factor

Jamaat-e-Islami, which reportedly recorded its best electoral performance in the recent general elections, now leads an opposition alliance in the Bangladesh Parliament. The BNP has alleged that the Jamaat — which has at different times shared power with both the BNP and the Awami League — is now 'involved in conspiracies' alongside the Awami League. Jamaat, for its part, has of late chosen to carve an independent political path, complicating efforts to maintain a unified anti-Awami League front.

Hasina's Declared Return and Its Political Fallout

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ousted in the 2024 uprising and currently in exile in India, has publicly announced a possible return to Bangladesh in December. Speaking virtually from an undisclosed location on multiple occasions, Hasina has stated her intention to return alongside senior Awami League leaders and surrender before a court, insisting that the charges against her — including a death sentence and multiple other legal cases — are 'politically motivated.'

The BNP government, however, has remained sceptical of a voluntary return. According to a government spokesperson, extradition followed by execution is the only legal path available to Hasina. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has filed repeated extradition requests with India.

Observers are divided. Some analysts suggest Hasina may return only if security guarantees and the right of appeal are negotiated with the authorities. Others argue that the threat of 'immediate hanging without a right of appeal sounds less like a credible legal path, and more like a ploy to deter Hasina from attempting to return,' according to a report by bdnews24.com. No official roadmap for handling her possible arrival has been publicly disclosed.

What This Means for Bangladesh's Political Stability

The Awami League, which dominated Bangladeshi politics for years, was barred from participating in elections following Hasina's ouster. Its potential re-emergence — even symbolically, through Hasina's return — could reignite debate over the party's future, the government's accountability campaign, and the country's broader political trajectory.

Observers note that the BNP's outreach is as much a defensive manoeuvre as a strategic one: with Jamaat moving independently and smaller protest-era parties drifting apart, the ruling party risks fragmentation within the coalition that brought it to power. The coming weeks, with the BNP consolidating allies, Jamaat building its own network, and Hasina pressing her return, could prove decisive for Bangladesh's political future.