India has distanced itself from remarks made by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a virtual media interaction hosted in New Delhi. …reports Asian Lite News Desk
India on Friday reiterated that it had no role in former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent virtual media interaction hosted in New Delhi, stressing that the event was organised by a private entity and that the government does not endorse remarks made there, particularly those concerning Bangladesh’s elected administration.
Addressing a bi-weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government had no involvement in the event, which took place on Wednesday.
“The government had no role to play in what was an event by a private media entity and the government does not endorse anything said at the forum, especially with regard to the duly constituted government of Bangladesh,” Jaiswal said in response to a question on Hasina’s interaction with the media.
Hasina, who has been living in India for the past two years, addressed the press conference through an audio link. During the interaction, she claimed Bangladesh’s situation had deteriorated over the last two years despite the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) taking office after what she described as a “rigged election”.
“Even after a rigged election brought the BNP to power, the situation did not change. Bangladesh remains in the grip of fear, terror, depression, economic hardship and deep insecurity,” Hasina said.
She also stated that she planned to return to Bangladesh before the end of the year.
The BNP-led government in Dhaka reacted sharply to her comments, describing the former Prime Minister as an “absconding convicted genocider”, a “mass murderer” and the head of a “mafia enterprise”. Referring to the anniversary of the 2024 July Revolution, it also urged New Delhi to extradite Hasina and said the event featuring her was an affront to Bangladesh’s sovereignty.
The exchange has further heightened tensions between supporters of Hasina and the current administration in Bangladesh.
Several former Bangladeshi ministers criticised the Tarique Rahman-led government over its remarks directed at both Hasina and India. They described the administration’s political rhetoric as “juvenile” and accused it of abandoning diplomatic decorum while attempting to silence dissenting voices.
Hasina’s son and former adviser, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, also joined the media interaction virtually from the United States. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the Indian government had “shown her the utmost respect and for that I’m eternally grateful”.
Wazed further alleged that Bangladesh had become “another Pakistan” on India’s eastern frontier, claiming foreign intelligence agencies, “including ISI”, had an “open hand” in the country and warning that terror elements were operating “openly”.
Asked about Wazed’s allegations, Jaiswal said India was closely monitoring developments in neighbouring countries and would act to safeguard its national security.
“We continue to closely follow developments that happen in our neighbourhood. Keeping in mind our national security interests and whatever measures have to be taken in that regard, we take those to secure our interests,” he said.
The MEA’s remarks underline New Delhi’s attempt to distance itself from statements made during the privately organised event while reaffirming that India’s approach towards developments in Bangladesh will continue to be guided by its national security interests.
