3 weeks ago
India disavows Hasina's criticism of Bangladesh's BNP government
Sheikh Hasina used to be the leader of Bangladesh, but she had to leave her country in August 2024, and now she lives in India.
Last Wednesday, she and her son spoke by video at a meeting in India.
At the meeting, they said unkind things about the new leaders of Bangladesh.
They even warned that Bangladesh could become a problem for peace in the region.
The leaders of Bangladesh got very upset about this.
They said India should not have let her speak and that it was insulting to their country.
India then said it did not agree with what Hasina said and that it had nothing to do with the meeting.
India also said it supports the government of Bangladesh.
Even though the two countries were upset, they still worked together on Thursday.
Bangladesh asked India to send more diesel fuel through a big pipeline, and India keeps helping with energy.
India said on Friday it does not endorse comments made by ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy at Wednesday's virtual media event.
Hasina and Joy attacked the newly elected BNP government in Dhaka, with Joy saying Bangladesh had become 'another Pakistan.'
Bangladesh's foreign office called the interaction an affront to its sovereignty and criticized New Delhi for not barring Hasina from speaking.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government had no role in the event hosted by a private media entity and endorses nothing said there.
Despite the diplomatic row, Indian high commissioner Dinesh Trivedi met Bangladeshi power minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, who urged India to increase diesel supplies via the Friendship Pipeline.
- Who
- India's external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and Bangladesh's foreign office.
- What
- India disavowed comments made by Hasina and Joy that were critical of Bangladesh's newly elected BNP government.
- Where
- New Delhi, India, with reactions in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- When
- India responded on Friday; the virtual media event took place on Wednesday.
- Why
- To address Dhaka's anger over the platform given to Hasina and keep bilateral relations on an even keel as Bangladesh deepens ties with China.
Indian Government's Position
Bangladesh Government's Position
Platform given to Hasina
Indian Government's Position
The event was organized by a private media entity and the Indian government had no role; New Delhi does not endorse anything said at the forum, especially regarding the duly constituted government of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Government's Position
Allowing Hasina to speak from New Delhi was an affront to Bangladesh's sovereignty and detrimental to a harmonious bilateral relationship; India should have barred her from the interaction.
Hasina's refuge and regional ties
Indian Government's Position
India continues to closely follow developments in its neighbourhood and takes whatever measures are needed to secure its national security interests.
Bangladesh Government's Position
India sheltering Hasina, who warned Bangladesh could become a threat to regional peace, sits uneasily with Dhaka as the two countries work through their relationship.
Key facts
- India's stance
- Does not endorse comments made at the forum; government had no role in the private media event
- Event
- Virtual media interaction hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia in New Delhi on Wednesday
- Bangladesh's reaction
- Called the interaction an affront to its sovereignty and detrimental to harmonious bilateral relations
- Hasina's status
- Has taken refuge in India since fleeing Bangladesh in August 2024; prepares to return home in December
- Bangladesh government
- Newly elected BNP government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman
- Energy ties
- Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline ships up to 180,000 tonnes of diesel annually from Numaligarh Refinery in Assam to Parbatipur in Dinajpur
- Regional context
- Bangladesh is deepening its ties with China
Quotes
Randhir Jaiswal
Spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs
“"The government had no role to play in what was an event by a private media entity, and the government does not endorse anything said at the forum, specially with regard to the duly constituted government of Bangladesh."”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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