Hasina in Delhi Is 'Principal Challenge' to Bangladesh PM's India — SkimNews
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- Humayun Kobir, Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, identified ousted PM Sheikh Hasina and her team 'stationed in Delhi' as the 'principal challenge' to planning new PM Tarique Rahman's visit to India.
- Kobir accused Hasina of killing around 2,000 Bangladeshi citizens during the July-August 2024 uprising crackdown and labeled her a 'terrorist' whose activities in Delhi 'do not benefit India either.'
- Kobir said Bangladesh's people need a 'clean break' from Hasina's 15-plus-year government, overthrown in the 2024 uprising, and described the Awami League leadership as a 'hindrance' to Delhi-Dhaka ties.
- Kobir cited 'positive signs,' noting India is 'trying to restrain' Hasina's team and that PM Rahman 'has never said he will not visit' India.
- Kobir praised Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi, saying Bangladesh is 'ready to engage across the board' if Delhi is receptive to his counsel, and framed the visit as 'bilateral' and a priority.
- Bangladesh seeks 'strategic autonomy' in foreign affairs and expects 'reciprocation' from India, arguing both countries must not allow actors on their soil to work against each other's national interests.
Why it matters: Bangladesh is conditioning normalization of bilateral ties on India restraining Hasina's activities from Indian soil — a specific, nameable demand with no policy or territorial dispute behind it. India is already reportedly 'trying to restrain' her, per Kobir, suggesting movement, but the PM's visit remains on hold until the situation is resolved at what Dhaka calls a 'conducive time.'
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