The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry condemned a public press conference held by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi, calling the address an affront to national sovereignty [1, 2].
The diplomatic friction arises because the current government views the permission granted by India to allow the ousted leader to speak publicly as a violation of bilateral respect. This event occurs as tensions remain high following the political upheaval that removed Hasina from power.
In a formal statement, the ministry expressed deep regret over the event [1, 2]. Officials said the address was a grievous insult to the martyrs of the July revolution [1, 2]. The press conference took place in early August, coinciding with the second anniversary of the July 2024 ouster [1, 3].
The 2024 protests that led to the removal of Hasina resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,400 people [4]. The Bangladesh government said that allowing the address on Indian soil undermines the country's sovereignty [1, 2].
Sheikh Hasina has remained in exile since the events of 2024 [4]. The Bangladesh government's reaction underscores the fragility of the current diplomatic relationship between Dhaka and New Delhi, specifically regarding the legal and political status of the former prime minister.
Government officials said the public appearance of the former leader serves as a reminder of the violence that occurred during the transition of power. The ministry said that the action by Indian authorities to facilitate the briefing is unacceptable to the people of Bangladesh [2].
“The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry called the public address an affront to national sovereignty.”
This diplomatic clash highlights the ongoing tension between Bangladesh and India over the sanctuary provided to Sheikh Hasina. By framing the press conference as an attack on sovereignty, the Bangladesh government is signaling that it views India's support for Hasina not merely as a humanitarian gesture, but as a political interference in its internal recovery from the 2024 revolution.
