India’s Ministry of External Affairs clarified on Tuesday that the government has no involvement in organizing a planned virtual address by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, emphasizing that a private media organization is responsible for hosting the event.
Hashina, currently residing in self-imposed exile in New Delhi, is scheduled to make her first public appearance since fleeing Bangladesh in 2024 through a videolink address on Wednesday. The 78-year-old will speak at an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia alongside her son and other speakers. She has been living in India since student-led protests led to the collapse of her government, and she received a death sentence in 2025 for crimes against humanity related to her response to those demonstrations, a ruling she has rejected as legally invalid.
Bangladesh has expressed concern about the planned speech and requested clarification from India regarding its position on political activities by Hasina and members of her Awami League party on Indian territory. An adviser to Bangladesh’s current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with India’s high commissioner in Dhaka on Monday to formally protest the event, warning that such activities could damage bilateral relations between the two countries.
Simultaneously, Bangladesh implemented a domestic ban on media coverage of Hasina’s address, with government officials citing laws that prohibit broadcasting her speeches and statements within the country. The Awami League party condemned this restriction, accusing the government of attempting to intimidate journalists and claiming officials are spreading misinformation about whether the event will proceed. Supporters of Hasina stated the event would move forward as scheduled, asserting that efforts to suppress dissent cannot silence voices operating outside Bangladesh’s borders.
The situation reflects broader tensions between India and Bangladesh following the political upheaval of 2024, which removed Hasina, a long-standing ally of New Delhi. Bangladesh continues to seek her extradition from India while pursuing diplomatic engagement, with the country’s prime minister expected to visit New Delhi next month for a BRICS summit.
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