Published : 04 Aug 2026, 01:20 AM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:30 AM
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed has called on India to make its position clear at an event in New Delhi where former prime minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to speak virtually.
Asked about the programme at the foreign ministry on Monday, she said the event could undermine efforts to restore normal bilateral relations.
“Such an arrangement around the president of the Awami League, whose activities are banned in Bangladesh, could undermine efforts to normalise relations between the two countries.”
Hasina, who is living in exile in India after being sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, is set to join a virtual event on Aug 5 -- two years after she was ousted amid a mass uprising, India Today reported.
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia (FCC South Asia) is organising the event in New Delhi.
According to the invitation cited by India Today, Hasina is expected to discuss her future plans and a “proposed timeline” for returning to Bangladesh.
Asked whether Dhaka would object to her address, Shama said: “Who are we going to object to? She is the head of a banned organisation, and a convicted fugitive accused of different crimes. The Bangladesh government does not have the time to respond to whatever she says or does, wherever she says it.
“But what we are following is that the Indian government recently issued a statement saying it does not expect a fugitive there to make political statements.
“The Indian government does not support that. Whether they support the Awami League holding online meetings or whatever else they do, the Indian government itself must make that clear.”
Hasina has separately told Reuters and Japan’s Kyodo News that she plans to return to Bangladesh by December.
India’s Position under Scrutiny
Media reports have also highlighted an Indian parliamentary committee report that reportedly urged keeping Hasina out of political activity to protect bilateral ties.
India Today said the committee reaffirmed New Delhi’s policy of not allowing political activities targeting another country from Indian soil. The Indian government reportedly told the committee it was not providing Hasina any platform or opportunity to conduct political activity from India.
FCC South Asia president Waiel Awwad, however, has told media outlets, “The Indian government has no objection to the event.”
Asked whether the programme could hurt efforts to improve ties, Shama said: “It could, but that is not what we want.
“I believe the people of Bangladesh do not want that either. Bangladesh does not want its relationship with India to become more negative. We want it to improve, and it is moving towards improvement. India will conduct its activities with Bangladesh keeping that in mind.”
She said Dhaka was pursuing a “forward-looking approach” towards India and added, “We do not want that to be harmed, and I deeply believe India does not want that either. So India itself must make clear whether it supports this or not.”
Asked whether Dhaka would formally protest, she said the matter had already been raised repeatedly with India.
“Since they are now sheltered and staying there as fugitives, the Indian government itself must make this clear. The responsibility is not ours,” she said.
Asked whether Dhaka would seek a formal explanation, Shama said: “The Indian government is not doing this.”
If the event is being held in India, a reporter pointed out. Shama replied, “If we consider it necessary, we will contact their foreign ministry.”
Tarique’s India Invitation
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the BRICS summit in Delhi in September. Modi had also invited him for a bilateral visit soon after his government took office in February.
Asked whether the Delhi event would affect Dhaka’s decision on accepting the invitation, Shama said: “Time will tell.”
On reports that Modi invited Tarique as the current chair of BIMSTEC, rather than formally addressing him as Bangladesh’s prime minister, she said: “This is not a matter for discussion.”
On concerns reportedly raised by the Indian parliamentary committee over Bangladesh’s ties with China, Shama said Bangladesh was a sovereign country and would maintain relations with all countries based on its own interests.
“India, China -- we will maintain communication and relations with everyone. There will be business relations as well as bilateral relations,” she said.
