2 hrs ago
Bangladesh Minister Urges India to Restrain Sheikh Hasina
Bangladesh official Humaiun Kobir wants India to limit Sheikh Hasina’s activities while she is in New Delhi.
Hasina is a former prime minister of Bangladesh who fled to India after losing power in August 2024.
Kobir called her a terrorist, but that is his accusation, not an established fact in this report.
He said Bangladesh wants India to act in return for Bangladesh’s own approach to people criticizing governments.
He also said the two countries are still talking and that their relationship could improve.
India’s envoy said India accepted Hasina because she asked to land there and that India was not prepared for her arrival.
Kobir also urged countries around South Asia to work more closely together.
He proposed considering a shared regional market and stronger cooperation in trade and energy.
Bangladesh Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir called Sheikh Hasina a “terrorist” and urged India to restrain her and other groups in the country.
Kobir said Bangladesh wants reciprocity and would not allow people from India to make statements against its government while in Bangladesh.
He described ongoing talks with India as positive and said India remains an important partner for Bangladesh.
India’s High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi said India had little choice but to accept Hasina’s request to land in New Delhi and was unprepared for her arrival.
Kobir also called for stronger South Asian integration, including closer economic ties and a potential single market.
- Who
- Bangladesh Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi.
- What
- Kobir urged India to restrain Sheikh Hasina and other groups in India, while also advocating closer South Asian economic integration.
- Where
- At the Bay of Bengal Conversation in Dhaka, Bangladesh; Hasina is in New Delhi, India.
- When
- Kobir made the remarks Monday at the Bay of Bengal Conversation; the article also refers to events in August 2024 and a Hasina press conference on 5 August this year.
- Why
- Kobir said Hasina’s activities from India are a challenge to Bangladesh-India relations and called for reciprocity.
Bangladesh’s concerns
India’s stated position
Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India
Bangladesh’s concerns
Kobir called Hasina a terrorist and said India should restrain her and other groups, arguing their activities hinder relations and that Bangladesh expects reciprocity.
India’s stated position
Trivedi said India had little choice but to accept Hasina’s request to land because she had been Bangladesh’s prime minister, and that India was unprepared to receive her.
Prospects for bilateral relations
Bangladesh’s concerns
Kobir said the issue is a major challenge but described dialogue as ongoing and expressed hope for improved ties and a future visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
India’s stated position
Trivedi’s remarks, as reported, explained India’s circumstances in receiving Hasina; Kobir also said India’s high commissioner was trying to understand conditions in Bangladesh.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Humaiun Kobir, Bangladesh Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
- Main request
- Kobir urged India to restrain Sheikh Hasina and other groups in India.
- Hasina’s location
- New Delhi, India
- Relationship context
- Relations deteriorated after Hasina was ousted in August 2024 and fled to New Delhi.
- India’s account
- High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi said India had little choice but to accept Hasina’s request to land and was unprepared for her arrival.
- Regional proposal
- Kobir advocated closer South Asian economic integration and a potential single market.
- Conference
- Bay of Bengal Conversation, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies in Dhaka
Quotes
Humaiun Kobir
Bangladesh Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
“The principal challenge [to the relationship], and it’s not too much to ask for, is restraining a terrorist [living] in Delhi…Sheikh Hasina, she’s a terrorist. She’s been trying to destabilise a foreign territory sitting in Delhi. There are other criminal groups who are out in India…They are a hindrance to both countries.”
theprint.in
“India does not need to facilitate them. Restrain them. That is it. We want some reciprocation.”
theprint.in
Sources
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