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Bangladesh expressed surprise and shock on Sunday after learning that India permitted fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to give a public speech in New Delhi.
Hasina, 78, fled to India in August 2024 following a student-led uprising that ended her 15-year autocratic rule. She delivered her first public address since then via an audio message at a packed press club in Delhi last Friday.
In November, a Dhaka court found her guilty in absentia of incitement, issuing orders to kill, and neglecting to prevent atrocities, sentencing her to be hanged.
The Bangladeshi foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the event, stating, “The government and the people of Bangladesh are surprised and shocked.” They accused India of allowing Hasina to speak openly in the capital and described her speech as a “hate speech” and a “clear affront” to Bangladesh’s populace and government. The statement further warned that this decision could create a harmful precedent, possibly damaging bilateral relations.
Voters in Bangladesh are scheduled to go to the polls on February 12 to select new leaders after a period of unrest following the fall of Hasina’s dictatorial administration.
During her audio speech, Hasina claimed that Bangladesh would not experience free and fair elections under interim leader Muhammad Yunus. The address was watched online by over 100,000 viewers.
Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite Hasina, though New Delhi has yet to respond to the request.
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