India's handling of Hasina speech 'gross diplomatic breach', says Jamaat’s Porwar

Jamaat-e-Islami has accused India of a "grave breach" of diplomatic protocol by allowing ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to speak from New Delhi.

Hasina, sentenced to death in absentia over crimes against humanity and currently sheltered in India, addressed a press conference on Wednesday, the anniversary of the July Uprising.

Dhaka reacted angrily to India furnishing Hasina a platform to speak.

Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said on Friday that Bangladesh remains committed to dignified diplomatic relations with all nations, including India, built on equal footing and mutual respect for bilateral interests, while honouring every country's independence and sovereignty.

"India has ignored Bangladesh's diplomatic calls by continuing to shelter convicted fugitive [Hasina].

"That amounts to a serious breach of international norms and diplomatic etiquette."

Noting that the interim government had repeatedly written to India seeking Hasina's return, he said: "By ignoring those calls and sheltering her, the Indian government appears to be patronising the banned Awami League rather than Bangladesh."

Porwar also accused India of disregarding the existing bilateral extradition treaty between the two nations.

"We expect the Indian government to revise its position and hand over the convict [Hasina] to Bangladesh.”

He said although the country had marked the second anniversary of the July Uprising, the BNP government has failed to bring the Awami League chief back.

Calling for stronger action, he urged the government to seek an Interpol Red Notice for Hasina and pursue assistance from the United Nations.

He warned that if the government showed diplomatic complacency, it would face tough public accountability.