Tensions between India and Bangladesh have escalated following a news conference in New Delhi where ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke to the press about her plans to return to Bangladesh. The address, conducted via audio link on the second anniversary of the student-led uprising that forced her from power, prompted Dhaka to accuse New Delhi of providing a platform to someone it characterizes as a fugitive and convicted perpetrator of crimes against humanity.
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry issued a statement expressing outrage over the event, arguing that Hasina and her associates used the occasion to direct harsh rhetoric toward Bangladesh and its people. Officials in Dhaka characterized the interaction as an infringement on Bangladeshi sovereignty and reiterated calls for India to extradite Hasina. The dispute has further strained diplomatic relations between the neighboring nations at a time when ties were already experiencing difficulties.
India sought to distance itself from the press conference, stating through official channels that it played no organizational role and would not endorse any political positions articulated during the event. Hasina, who fled to India in 2024 following weeks of sustained protests, declared her intention to return to Bangladesh despite a death sentence imposed in absentia related to her government’s response to the uprising. The 78-year-old former leader, who governed for 15 years before her departure, has faced accusations that her administration manipulated state institutions to suppress dissent and opposition activism.
During her remarks, Hasina dismissed the charges against her as politically driven and criticized Bangladesh’s current government, headed by Tarique Rahman, over economic management and the treatment of her supporters. She expressed particular interest in returning during a month significant to Bangladesh’s national identity. The diplomatic fallout intensified when Hasina’s son made comments praising India’s treatment of his mother, describing the security and courtesy she has received. The tensions were further compounded when Shakib Al Hasan, a former cricket captain who appeared alongside Hasina, faced an attack on his residence in Bangladesh hours after the event, though no injuries resulted from the incident.
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