Bangladesh has voiced intense frustration following reports that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who faces convictions in crimes against humanity cases, was permitted to engage directly with the media from Indian territory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the event, asserting that Hasina and her associates used the platform to disparage the Bangladeshi state and its citizens.
Hasina has resided in India since her government fell on August 5, 2024. The recent virtual interaction marked her first direct response to journalists in two years and coincided with official commemorations in Bangladesh marking the second anniversary of the July Revolution. The event, held Wednesday evening, was organized by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia at the Press Club in New Delhi.
In a formal statement released via Facebook at 11:00 PM, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep regret, noting that Dhaka had previously alerted the Indian government to concerns regarding how such an event might impact the rebuilding of bilateral relations. The Ministry characterized the interaction as an assault on Bangladesh’s sovereignty and an insult to the martyrs of the July Revolution. It further emphasized that the people of Bangladesh, driven by the spirit of that movement, would not permit a resurgence of fascism, declaring that there is no place for the convicted former leader or her “mafia circle” in the nation’s political future.
The Ministry reiterated that while Bangladesh seeks a constructive, future-oriented relationship with India based on mutual respect and non-interference, the lack of response to repeated requests for Hasina’s extradition under the 2013 Extradition Treaty remains a point of contention. Allowing her to publicly address the media is viewed as harmful to bilateral ties and deeply offensive to the Bangladeshi public.
Prior to the event, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated on Tuesday that the press conference was organized by a private entity, asserting that the Indian government had no involvement or responsibility for the views expressed. Earlier that week, Humayun Kabir, the Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, had met with India’s newly appointed High Commissioner in Dhaka. During that meeting, Kabir requested that India ensure its territory is not used by Hasina or members of the banned Awami League to deliver political rhetoric or incite instability within Bangladesh.