Bangladesh Slams India Over Sheikh Hasina’s New Delhi Press Conference, Calls It “Affront” to Sovereignty
Bangladesh on Wednesday (August 5) issued a sharp rebuke to India for permitting deposed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to address the media from New Delhi, describing the event as an affront to Bangladesh’s sovereignty and cautioning that it could undermine efforts to repair bilateral ties.
In a strongly worded statement, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Hasina of directing “venomous vitriol” at Bangladesh and its citizens during the live media interaction. “Bangladesh is outraged that the absconding convicted genocider Sheikh Hasina was allowed this evening to engage in live interaction with the media in New Delhi where she and her henchmen launched venomous vitriol against the State of Bangladesh and her people,” the ministry said.
Dhaka Says Its Concerns Were Ignored
According to the ministry, Bangladesh had flagged its concerns to New Delhi ahead of the event, cautioning about the potential fallout for bilateral relations. “Dhaka deeply regrets that in spite of concerns conveyed a priori to the Government of India about the likely ramifications of this event on the reset of our bilateral relations, this public event was permitted to be held,” the statement read.
The rebuke came as Bangladesh marked the second anniversary of the July Revolution. The foreign ministry characterized Hasina’s appearance on Indian soil as a direct insult to those who lost their lives during the 2024 protests.
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The ministry further accused the former prime minister of attempting to discredit established findings related to the July-August 2024 violence, asserting that such efforts would not succeed in altering the historical record. “Our nation will never again go back to the dark days of fascism and that Bangladesh will never be a client State. Convicted mass murderer Hasina and her mafia enterprise will never have a place in the polity of Bangladesh,” the statement said.
Extradition Demand Reiterated
The foreign ministry renewed its call for Hasina’s return under the 2013 India-Bangladesh Extradition Treaty, noting that repeated requests to New Delhi had gone unanswered.
“On the contrary, allowing her the opportunity to openly interact with the media under any pretext is deeply hurtful to our people’s sentiment and detrimental to the development of harmonious bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India,” the ministry said.
Despite the sharp criticism, Dhaka reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing a “constructive, mutually beneficial and forward-looking relationship” with India, grounded in sovereign equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.
Hasina Says She Will Return in December
Earlier that day, Sheikh Hasina told a virtual press interaction from New Delhi that she plans to return to Bangladesh in December, stating she was ready to face arrest, imprisonment or any other consequence that awaited her.
“I cannot stay away while my beloved countrymen are suffering,” she said, adding that she remained determined to return regardless of what she might face upon arrival.