Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, has intensified pressure on India to spell out its position on Sheikh Hasina’s political activities on Indian soil, saying New Delhi can no longer stay ambiguous about whether it supports them. Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she said the issue now carries real consequences for bilateral relations.
“India has to be clear whether it is supporting it or not.”
Concerns First Raised Ahead of the Delhi Press Event
Shama first raised the demand on Monday, ahead of Hasina’s virtual press conference held on August 5 at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in New Delhi, an event that marked Hasina’s first public appearance in India since fleeing Bangladesh two years earlier. At the time, Shama said Dhaka’s foreign ministry had already sought clarification from New Delhi over the planned event.
She stressed that Bangladesh’s approach toward India remained forward-looking despite the friction.
“We are moving forward with India with a forward-looking approach.”
Asked directly whether Hasina’s appearance could damage bilateral ties, Shama acknowledged the risk while stressing it was not Dhaka’s preference.
“It can. But we don’t want that.”
Diplomatic Channels Already Engaged
Shama noted that Bangladesh had repeatedly conveyed its position to India, both verbally and in writing, that fugitives or convicted individuals should not be allowed to use Indian territory for political activity aimed at destabilising Bangladesh. That message was reinforced separately when the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, Humayun Kobir, met India’s newly appointed High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, and told him Dhaka expected New Delhi’s cooperation in preventing Hasina from using Indian soil for political statements.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has responded by describing the press event as private, saying the Indian government had no role in organising it and does not endorse the views expressed.
Sharper Language in Follow-Up Remarks
By Thursday, Shama’s language toward India had hardened further. Referring to Hasina and Awami League leaders based in India, she said New Delhi needed to decide what kind of relationship it wanted with Bangladesh going forward.
“When a convicted criminal sits on Indian soil and says such things, and the Indian government allows it, then, of course, there is concern for Bangladesh.”
She went further, warning that continued tolerance of what she called conspiratorial activity would have consequences.
“If the Indian government does not stop it right now, it will certainly create a cause for concern for the people of Bangladesh.”
Balancing Pressure With a Push for Better Ties
Despite the pointed warnings, Shama maintained that Dhaka’s underlying goal remains a stronger relationship with India, one grounded in mutual respect rather than confrontation.
“The relationship has to be based on equality, mutual respect and dignity.”
She also alleged that the Awami League, whose political activities remain banned in Bangladesh, was attempting to revive old narratives tying Bangladesh to instability, framing Hasina’s Delhi remarks as part of that broader effort.
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An Unresolved Diplomatic Standoff
Shama’s comments add to a growing list of formal objections Dhaka has raised with New Delhi since Hasina’s press conference, including a separate statement from the Foreign Ministry calling the event an affront to Bangladesh’s sovereignty. With India yet to offer the explicit clarification Dhaka is seeking, and Hasina having used the same event to announce plans to return to Bangladesh in December, the question of where India stands on her continued political activity looks set to remain a persistent irritant in the relationship between the two countries.
Summary: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has repeatedly pressed India to clarify its position on Sheikh Hasina’s political activities from Indian territory, first ahead of Hasina’s August 5 press event and again days later. She says Bangladesh wants stronger ties with New Delhi but warns the relationship’s future depends on how India responds.
