Bangladesh has asked India to clarify its position on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's planned virtual address from New Delhi, warning that allowing political activities by a fugitive could undermine efforts to improve bilateral relations.
The remarks mark Dhaka's first official response to Hasina's scheduled appearance at an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia (FCCSA) in New Delhi on August 5. The event commemorates the second anniversary of the student-led uprising that forced Hasina from power in August 2024.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, said the government wants India to make its position clear on the issue.
'We are moving forward with India with a forward-looking approach. We don't want that progress to be affected. India has to be clear about its stance,' she said.
Islam added that Bangladesh has repeatedly expressed concerns to New Delhi over Hasina and other Awami League leaders making political statements while staying in India.
'We do not want India-Bangladesh relations to be harmed by statements from fugitive accused individuals,' she said, adding that India had previously indicated it did not expect fugitives to engage in political activities from its territory.
According to the FCCSA, Hasina, 78, will address the August 5 event via video link alongside her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and other speakers.
The event comes as Bangladesh continues to seek Hasina's extradition from India, where she has been living since fleeing the country after her government was overthrown in August 2024.
Although multiple criminal cases have been filed against her, Hasina recently told Reuters that she plans to return to Bangladesh in December.
Dhaka has formally requested Hasina's extradition, and in 2025 she was sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity linked to the 2024 crackdown on anti-government protests. A United Nations report estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed during the unrest.
Hasina has rejected the verdict, describing it as legally invalid.
While stressing that the August 5 programme is not organised by the Indian government, Bangladesh said it would raise the matter through diplomatic channels if necessary.
India's Ministry of External Affairs has not yet responded publicly to Dhaka's remarks.
Relations between the two neighbours have remained strained since Hasina's removal from office, but both governments have recently signalled a willingness to rebuild ties through greater diplomatic engagement and cooperation following the formation of Bangladesh's new government after February's election.
(with inputs from Reuters)