Dhaka protests New Delhi event, warns of strain on bilateral ties
Diplomatic Correspondent :
Bangladesh has strongly protested the holding of a public event in New Delhi that featured a statement by fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity.
Dhaka said allowing the event to take place in the Indian capital and permitting what it described as “hate speech” by Hasina violated norms of inter-state relations, including the principles of respect for sovereignty, non interference and good neighbourliness.
The government termed the episode “a clear affront to the people and the Government of Bangladesh,” Foreign Ministry said in a sharply worded statement on Sunday.
“It sets a dangerous precedent vis-a-vis the future of Bangladesh-India relations and may seriously impair the ability of the future elected polity in Bangladesh to engage, shape and nurture mutually beneficial bilateral relations,” it stated.
Bangladesh said it was “surprised and shocked” that Sheikh Hasina – whom it described as a fugitive and a “mass murderer” – was allowed to speak at a public gathering in New Delhi on January 23.
According to the statement, Hasina openly called for the removal of the current Government of Bangladesh and issued ‘blatant incitements’ to her party loyalists and the general public to carry out “acts of terror” aimed at derailing the country’s upcoming general elections.
Dhaka further expressed deep resentment that India has yet to act on what it called its obligations under the bilateral extradition agreement, despite repeated requests for Hasina’s handover.
Instead, she was allowed to make what Bangladesh characterised as “inciteful pronouncements” from Indian soil, a move the government warned could clearly endanger Bangladesh’s democratic transition as well as its peace and security,” the statement said.
The government also pointed to the remarks as further justification for the Interim Government’s decision to ban the activities of the Awami League.
“The unabashed incitements by Awami League’s leadership yet again demonstrated why the Interim Government had to ban its activities,” it added.
The statement said, “Bangladesh would hold this outfit responsible for committing incidents of violence and terror in the run up to the elections and on the election day, and will take appropriate actions to foil its evil conspiracies.”
Sheikh Hasina served as prime minister for nearly 15 years before being ousted amid mass student-led protests in 2024 that demanded her resignation amid allegations of authoritarian rule, corruption and human rights abuses including enforced disappearances.
Following widespread unrest, Hasina fled to India in August 2024, where she has remained in self-imposed exile.
In November 2025, a special International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka convicted Hasina in absentia on multiple counts related to the violent crackdown on protesters, including incitement to violence and ordering lethal force, and sentenced her to death.
The tribunal also convicted her former home minister in the same case.
Bangladesh has repeatedly requested Hasina’s extradition from India under a 2013 bilateral treaty, but New Delhi has not acted on the requests, citing legal and political complications.
Dhaka expresses deep aggrievement that while India has not acted on its extradition requests, Hasina was allowed to make what it termed inciteful pronouncements on Indian soil.
On previous occasions, when Sheikh Hasina delivered speeches from India, protesters in Bangladesh – particularly those aligned with the July movement – stormed the historic Dhanmondi 32 residence and carried out acts of demolition.
However, no such incident occurred this time after her speech, despite the fact that the country is currently in the midst of an election campaign, marking a notable shift in the political atmosphere.
The interim government, headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has since imposed a ban on the activities of the Awami League, citing repeated allegations of violence, intimidation, and terror linked to the party’s leadership.
Since the interim administration assumed power, Bangladesh-India relations have significantly deteriorated.
Tensions have risen over several unresolved issues, including border killings, alleged push-ins of Bangladeshi nationals, and the recent controversy surrounding a cricket incident, all of which have strained diplomatic ties.
Throughout much of its tenure, the Indian government has shown little initiative in strengthening bilateral relations.
However, a noticeable shift emerged following the return of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman from London.
In a move, India reached out to him, revisiting its past engagement with the BNP and expressing interest in rebuilding and advancing future-oriented relations.
Meanwhile, authorities in Dhaka have warned that any political party would be held accountable for acts of violence ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 12, 2026.
The government has pledged to take “appropriate actions” to fend off what it described as “evil conspiracies” aimed at destabilising the electoral process.