Bangladesh summons India's attention over Hasina press conference, extradition plea
Dhaka has formally expressed its displeasure over a virtual press conference by deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from New Delhi, calling the event an affront to Bangladesh's sovereignty and a setback to bilateral ties. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka issued a statement on Wednesday stating that the government was 'outraged' by the interaction, which it said was permitted despite prior concerns conveyed to India.
In its statement, the Bangladeshi foreign ministry said it 'deeply regrets' that despite sharing its apprehensions with the Government of India about the likely impact on the reset of bilateral relations, the public event was allowed to take place. The ministry also noted that its repeated requests for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, who faces a death sentence in absentia in Bangladesh, have not yet received a response from New Delhi.
During the audio-only press conference, her first public media interaction since fleeing to India on August 5, 2024, she said she was determined to return to Bangladesh in December. Attendees could only hear her voice; no video was shown. The event marked a rare public appearance for the former prime minister, who has been in India since a massive student-led protest forced her ouster last year.
The Bangladeshi statement highlighted the desire to maintain a 'constructive, mutually beneficial, and forward-looking relationship with India based on sovereign equality, mutual respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and national dignity.' It added that allowing Sheikh Hasina to address the media from Indian soil had hurt public sentiment in Bangladesh and was 'detrimental to the development of harmonious bilateral relations' between the neighbouring countries.
The statement also expressed disappointment over the lack of a formal response to Dhaka's extradition requests under the India-Bangladesh Extradition Treaty signed in 2013. In November of last year, a special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity, linked to the violent crackdown on student protests in 2024. Since the verdict, Bangladesh has repeatedly urged India to hand her over to face justice.
India has not issued an official response to the latest statement. The development adds a new layer of tension to a relationship that Dhaka has described as key to regional stability. Analysts note that the timing of the press conference, ahead of a possible return by Sheikh Hasina in December, could further complicate bilateral diplomatic exchanges.
The foreign ministry's remarks underscore the fragility of the reset in relations that Bangladesh has sought since the political transition in August 2024. While both countries have traditionally maintained close ties, the current friction centres on the presence of a deposed leader in India and the question of her legal status under international treaties.
As the situation evolves, observers are watching for India's formal response, which may shape the future trajectory of diplomatic and security cooperation between the two nations.
