Key points
- Dhaka asks New Delhi to clarify its position
- Hasina plans virtual address from New Delhi
- Bangladesh seeks the extradition of the former prime minister
ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh has asked India to clarify its position on former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s planned virtual address from New Delhi, warning that allowing the fugitive leader’s political activity could damage bilateral relations.
Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said Dhaka did not want Hasina’s planned appearance to undermine progress in ties with New Delhi.
“India has to be clear about its stance,” she told reporters late Monday, according to Reuters.
Hasina, 78, is scheduled to address an August 5 event organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in New Delhi.
She would be accompanied by her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and other speakers during her video-link address. The event marks the second anniversary of the student-led uprising that forced the former prime minister from power in August 2024.
Bangladesh concerned about Hasina’s statements
Islam said Bangladesh had repeatedly expressed concern over Hasina and other Awami League leaders making political statements from Indian territory.
Dhaka would raise the matter through diplomatic channels if necessary, she said, adding that the event in question was not planned by the Indian government. India’s Foreign Ministry had not responded to the warning so far.
Historic One-Point Demand: The resignation of the Sheikh Hasina government and the dismantling of the fascist system. pic.twitter.com/hvvkWHozYN
— Nahid Islam (@NahidIslam_24) August 3, 2026
Hasina has lived in India since fleeing Bangladesh after the protests that ended her 16-year rule.
Bangladesh has sought her extradition, and she was sentenced to death in 2025 over crimes related to the crackdown on the protests. The former prime minister has rejected the verdict as legally invalid.
Relations between the neighbours have remained strained since her ouster, although Dhaka and New Delhi have recently signalled efforts to rebuild ties through engagement and cooperation.
