Bangladesh has condemned a live media interaction by fugitive ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi, accusing her of making “venomous” remarks against the state and people of Bangladesh.
In a statement on Wednesday, the foreign ministry said Dhaka was “outraged” that Hasina, an “absconding convicted genocider”, had been allowed to participate in the event despite Bangladesh raising concerns with the Indian government in advance.
The statement came after a media interaction with Hasina hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The ministry said the event was held on the second anniversary of the July Revolution, describing Hasina’s appearance on Indian soil as “an affront to the sovereignty of Bangladesh” and an insult to those killed during the uprising.
Bangladesh also rejected Hasina’s denial of allegations surrounding the deadly crackdown during the July-August 2024 unrest, saying the claims contradicted facts established by the UN.
‘Deeply hurtful’
The ministry accused Hasina and her supporters of attempting to “reverse the tide of history” and said the people of Bangladesh had rejected such efforts.
“Bangladesh will never be a client State,” the ministry said, adding that Hasina and her “mafia enterprise” would have no place in the country’s political system.
Dhaka said it wanted to maintain a “constructive, mutually beneficial, and forward-looking relationship” with India based on sovereign equality, mutual respect, non-interference and national dignity.
However, it criticised New Delhi for not responding to repeated requests to return Hasina to Bangladesh under the 2013 extradition treaty between the two countries.
The ministry said allowing Hasina to publicly interact with the media was “deeply hurtful” to the sentiments of Bangladeshis and harmful to efforts to develop harmonious relations between Dhaka and New Delhi.
Hasina fled India on August 5 2024, after a mass uprising toppled her 15-year regime, and she was sentenced to death last fall for crimes against humanity.
About 1,400 people were killed and thousands wounded in the uprising at the hands of Hasina’s security forces and her Awami League loyalists, according to the UN.
