The Government of Bangladesh on Saturday said it was “surprised and shocked” that fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was permitted to address a public gathering in New Delhi, alleging that her remarks posed a direct threat to Bangladesh’s peace, security, and fragile democratic transition.
In a press release issued in Dhaka, the government said that Hasina—who it claims has been convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity—delivered a statement at the Delhi event on January 23 that went far beyond political commentary. According to the statement, she openly called for the removal of the current Government of Bangladesh and issued what were described as explicit incitements to her party loyalists and members of the public to engage in acts of terror aimed at disrupting the country’s upcoming general elections.
The Bangladeshi government said it was “deeply aggrieved” that India has not acted on repeated requests to hand over Sheikh Hasina under the existing bilateral extradition agreement. Instead, it alleged, she was allowed to use Indian soil to make what it termed “inciteful pronouncements,” a development that, in Dhaka’s view, directly endangers Bangladesh’s democratic process as well as its internal peace and security.
According to the statement, permitting such an event to take place in New Delhi and allowing what it called “mass murderer Hasina” to deliver a speech amounting to hate speech runs contrary to established norms of inter-state relations. The government said these norms include respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and the principles of good neighbourliness. It described the incident as a clear affront not only to the Government of Bangladesh but also to the Bangladeshi people as a whole.
The press release further warned that the episode sets what it called a “dangerous precedent” for the future of Bangladesh–India relations. It cautioned that such actions could seriously undermine the ability of any future elected government in Bangladesh to engage constructively with India or to build and sustain mutually beneficial bilateral ties.
The statement also sharply criticised the Awami League, saying that the “unabashed incitements” allegedly issued by its leadership once again underscored why the interim government had moved to ban the party’s activities. It said Bangladesh would hold the Awami League fully responsible for any incidents of violence or terror in the lead-up to the elections and on polling day, and pledged to take “appropriate actions” to thwart what it described as the party’s “evil conspiracies.”
Reiterating its position, the Bangladeshi government said it remains deeply aggrieved by India’s continued failure to hand over Sheikh Hasina despite repeated formal requests. It concluded by warning that allowing her to address public events from Delhi seriously jeopardises Bangladesh’s democratic transition and threatens the country’s peace and security at a critical moment in its political journey.
