Bangladesh on Wednesday expressed strong outrage after fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been convicted in a case, was allowed to participate in a live media interaction in New Delhi, where she and her associates made remarks against the Bangladeshi state and its people.
In a strongly worded statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Dhaka “deeply regrets” that the event was allowed to take place despite concerns previously conveyed to the Government of India about its potential impact on efforts to reset bilateral relations.
“Dhaka deeply regrets that, in spite of concerns conveyed a prior to the Government of India about the likely ramifications of this event on the reset of our bilateral relations, this public event was permitted to be held,” the statement said.
The ministry reiterated that Bangladesh seeks to maintain a constructive, mutually beneficial and forward-looking relationship with India based on sovereign equality, mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, and respect for national dignity.
However, it noted with regret that Bangladesh’s repeated requests for the return of Hasina under the Extradition Treaty signed between Bangladesh and India in 2013 have yet to receive any response.
“On the contrary, allowing her the opportunity to openly interact with the media under any pretext is deeply hurtful to our people’s sentiment and detrimental to the development of harmonious bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India,” the statement added.
July Uprising anniversary
The ministry said the timing of the event was particularly significant, as Bangladesh was observing the second anniversary of the July Revolution.
“On a day when the people of Bangladesh are observing the second anniversary of the July Revolution, this interaction by Sheikh Hasina on Indian soil stands as an affront to the sovereignty of Bangladesh and a grievous insult to the martyrs of the July Revolution,” it said.
The statement further said that Hasina’s remarks amounted to a denial of facts established by the United Nations regarding the killings of civilians, including children, during the July-August 2024 unrest.
“The denial of facts established by the United Nations, including the gruesome killing of innocent civilians, including minor children, during July-August 2024 by the fascist regime, stands as a futile attempt by the absconding convicted mass murderer Hasina and her criminal cohort to reverse the tide of history,” it said.
According to the ministry, the people of Bangladesh had rejected such attempts in the past and would continue to do so.
Reaffirming the government’s position, the statement said the spirit of the July Revolution remains intact.
“Upholding the spirit of the July Revolution, our people have firmly resolved that our nation will never again return to the dark days of fascism and that Bangladesh will never be a client state. Convicted mass murderer Hasina and her mafia enterprise will never have a place in the polity of Bangladesh,” it added.
