New Delhi: Ties continue to fray between New Delhi and Dhaka, with India on Friday summoning the Acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh in the wake of the latest row over former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s speech.
During the meeting, India highlighted Dhaka’s “persistent negativity” in blaming New Delhi for “internal governance issues” and conflating Hasina’s public statements with that of the government’s official position.
“It was conveyed that India desires a positive, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh, which has been reiterated several times in recent high-level meetings. It is, however, regrettable that regular statements made by Bangladesh authorities continue to portray India negatively, holding us responsible for internal governance issues,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.
“These statements by Bangladesh are in fact responsible for the persistent negativity. Comments attributed to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina have been made in her individual capacity in which India has no role to play. Conflating this with the Government of India’s position is not going to help add positivity to bilateral relations.”
New Delhi’s action comes after Dhaka Thursday handed over a protest note to India’s Acting High Commissioner in Bangladesh, over a speech made Wednesday by Hasina.
Dhaka has been fuming over Hasina’s recent speech, where the former prime minister accused Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor of the interim government, of conspiring to kill her and her sister Sheikh Rehana. The interim government has labelled Hasina’s accusations a “false and fabricated” and urged India to take actions to prevent any further statements from the ousted leader.
Hasina fled to India on 5 August, 2024, following months-long student demonstrations in Bangladesh. The former Bangladesh prime minister continues to live in New Delhi, as exclusively reported by ThePrint earlier. Her speech was broadcasted across the social media channels of the Awami League.
The same evening as Hasina made her speech, protesters in Dhaka surrounded Dhanmondi-32, the former residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, one of the founders of the country, and set the building on fire. The protesters used excavators to destroy a mural of Rehman, and further vandalised properties of other Awami League leaders.
In a statement on the social media platform Facebook, Yunus’ office blamed Hasina’s speech for the vandalism that occurred at Dhanmondi.
“Sheikh Hasina has insulted and humiliated those who sacrificed themselves in the July Uprising. By making irrelevant, vulgar and hateful remarks regarding the death of the martyr, the fugitive Sheikh Hasina has disrespected and disrespected the July Uprising,” said the Chief Advisor’s office in its statement.
The Chief Advisor’s statement further urged India to not allow its territory to be used by Hasina to “destabilise” Bangladesh and has promised to bring the killers of student demonstrators last July to “justice.” Bangladeshi authorities have filed numerous cases against Hasina following her departure to India, including cases at the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka.
The interim government made a request for Hasina’s extradition on 12 December. India continues to review the request for her extradition, but no decision has been made till date.
Hasina’s stay has become a major irritant in ties between New Delhi and Dhaka. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had travelled to Dhaka on 9 December, 2024 for Foreign Office Consultations between the two governments, a visit which was meant to reset ties with the caretaker administration.
Misri underlined New Delhi’s desire to “work closely” with Yunus’ caretaker government, while also raising the need for Dhaka to ensure the safety of minorities in the country. The Indian Foreign Secretary met with Yunus and Foreign Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain during the visit.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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correctly worded. rightfully cranking up the heat at the right time. the drama unfolding in Bangladesh in the name of upholding “democracy” stands exposed after months of anarchy in the Bangladeshi society and political spectrum.