Bangladesh has warned that permitting political activities by a fugitive could harm the development of bilateral relations and has asked India to clarify its position on the planned virtual speech by exiled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from New Delhi.
The comments were Bangladesh’s first formal reaction to Hasina’s scheduled attendance at an event in New Delhi on August 5th, which was organized by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia and commemorated the second anniversary of the student-led rebellion that overthrew her administration.
The problem arises because Dhaka is still pursuing Hasina’s extradition from India, where she has resided since escaping Bangladesh in August 2024. Hasina stated in an interview with news agency Reuters that she intends to return to Bangladesh in December despite the numerous accusations against her.
“We are taking a forward-thinking approach as we go forward with India. Shama Obaed Islam, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, told reporters late on Monday, “We don’t want that progress to be affected.” “India has to be clear about its stance.”
Hasina, 78, will speak via video link at the New Delhi ceremony alongside her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and other speakers, according to the FCCSA.
Islam claimed that because Hasina and other Awami League leaders were making political statements from Indian territory, Bangladesh has frequently expressed its concerns to India.
“We do not want India-Bangladesh relations to be harmed by statements from fugitive accused individuals,” she stated, adding that India had previously stated it did not expect fugitives to engage in political activities from its territory. Islam said Bangladesh had repeatedly expressed its concerns to India regarding Hasina and other Awami League leaders making political statements from Indian soil.
Islam emphasized that the Indian government did not organize the event and stated that Dhaka would bring up the issue through diplomatic channels if needed.
The Indian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond.
Since Hasina’s fall from power, relations between the neighbors have been tense, but since Tarique Rahman’s government took office following the election in February, both sides have recently indicated a readiness to restore relationships through greater engagement and cooperation.
Since her administration was deposed following weeks of deadly protests, Hasina has stayed in India.
Since then, Bangladesh has requested her extradition, and in 2025, she was given a death sentence for crimes against humanity related to the 2024 crackdown, which the UN claimed killed up to 1,400 people. Hasina has declared the ruling to be unenforceable.
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