Bangladesh Warns Fugitive Remarks by Hasina Could Harm India Ties, Seeks Clarification

Bangladesh has issued its first official response to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's planned interaction in New Delhi, cautioning that statements from fugitive accused individuals should not be allowed to harm the bilateral relationship with India. The reaction marks Dhaka's first public comment on the event, underscoring the sensitivity surrounding Hasina's presence in India.

"We do not want India-Bangladesh relations to be harmed by the statements of fugitive accused individuals," Shama Obayed Islam, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, told reporters in Dhaka. The remarks came a day after the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia announced it would host Hasina for an exclusive interactive session on Wednesday evening.

Hasina, 78, has been living in India since she was ousted from power on August 5, 2024, following a student-led uprising. Her scheduled appearance in New Delhi would mark her first public event in India after her ouster, making it a significant moment in diplomatic ties between the two neighbours.

The club, which invited members via a post on social media platform X, said the session would be held from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at the Sir Mark Tully Auditorium and would be live-streamed on its platforms. The club's post referred to Hasina as "H.E. Sheikh Hasina", a title traditionally used for heads of state or government.

Responding to a question on whether Bangladesh would formally object, Islam said: "Whom do we object to? This is a banned organisation and she, as head of the organisation, has been sentenced for several crimes. Bangladesh government cannot spend its time answering questions on what she is doing or saying."

The Awami League, which Hasina led, has been banned by Bangladesh's current administration. Hasina herself received a death sentence in November last year from the International Crimes Tribunal, a court she had established in 2010 to try war crimes from the 1971 liberation war.

The minister also referred to an earlier statement by the Indian government that it does not expect fugitive criminals to engage in political activities. "We have been following that the Government of India has recently issued a statement saying that they don't expect a fugitive criminal will engage in political statements or activities — the Government of India does not support that," she said.

Islam said Bangladesh has consistently raised concerns about Hasina and other fugitive Awami League leaders using Indian soil for political statements. "We have always said that every time this fugitive criminal or other fugitive criminals of the Awami League speak from India and make political statements or they remain involved in conspiracies to destabilise the situation in Bangladesh," she said.

"We are moving (on ties with India) with a forward-looking attitude. We don't want that to be harmed and it is my deep belief that even India does not want that. So, India has to clarify whether they are supporting this or not," Islam added.

The minister also emphasized that the event is not being organised by the Indian government. "It is taking place in India. If the need arises, we will get in touch with their Ministry of External Affairs," she said.

Hasina's death sentence was handed down after the International Crimes Tribunal found her guilty of "crimes against humanity" related to the anti-government protests in July-August 2024. The tribunal held her responsible for ordering a brutal crackdown, with UN estimates indicating that up to 1,400 people were killed by state action.

In response, Hasina has dismissed the trial as "a sham" and the judgment as "legally void". Through London-based law firm Kingsley Napley, she accused the tribunal of conducting a "witch-hunt". She has also reiterated her intention to return to Bangladesh soon.

The exchange highlights the delicate nature of the relationship, with Dhaka seeking clarity from New Delhi on where it stands. The minister's remarks signal that Bangladesh will be closely monitoring the event and its potential impact on bilateral ties.