Bangladesh Presses India on Hasina's New Delhi Speech
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- Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam told reporters late Monday that India "has to be clear about its stance" on Hasina's planned appearance, saying Dhaka does "not want India-Bangladesh relations to be harmed by statements from fugitive accused individuals."
- The Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia (FCCSA) is hosting the August 5 event marking the second anniversary of the student-led uprising that toppled Hasina's government; Hasina, 78, will appear by video link alongside her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
- Bangladesh has repeatedly conveyed concerns to India over Hasina and other Awami League leaders making political statements from Indian soil, noting India had previously indicated it did not expect fugitives to engage in political activities from its territory.
- Sheikh Hasina told Reuters she plans to return to Bangladesh in December, despite Dhaka seeking her extradition and a 2025 death sentence for crimes against humanity over the 2024 crackdown that the UN estimated killed up to 1,400 people — a verdict she rejects as legally void.
- India-Bangladesh relations have been strained since Hasina's removal but both sides have recently signaled willingness to rebuild ties since Tarique Rahman's government took office after February's election, making Dhaka's warning a pointed diplomatic signal.
Why it matters: Bangladesh's warning exposes a contradiction India hasn't resolved: New Delhi previously said it didn't expect fugitives to engage in political activities from its soil, yet Hasina is still doing so from Indian territory with no Indian foreign ministry response. With Hasina pledging a December return and Dhaka actively pursuing her extradition, India's silence on whether the FCCSA event proceeds will signal whether it's willing to jeopardize the diplomatic reset under Tarique Rahman's government.
