Bangladesh on Wednesday issued a strong protest after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the media from New Delhi, calling the event a “grievous insult” to the country’s sovereignty and warning that it could damage relations with India.
In a sharply worded statement, Dhaka said it was “outraged” that Hasina was allowed to hold a live media interaction in the Indian capital despite its concerns being conveyed to New Delhi in advance.
“Bangladesh is outraged that the absconding convicted genocider Sheikh Hasina was allowed this evening to engage in live interaction with the media in New Delhi where she and her henchmen launched venomous vitriol against the State of Bangladesh and her people,” Dhaka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement posted on X.
The statement came hours after Hasina, speaking at an audio-only press conference from the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Delhi, said she would return to Bangladesh in December despite the possibility of imprisonment or even a death sentence.
Bangladesh is outraged that the absconding convicted genocider Sheikh Hasina was allowed this evening to engage in live interaction with the media in New Delhi where she and her henchmen launched venomous vitriol against the State of Bangladesh and her people.
Dhaka deeply… pic.twitter.com/YFmis7tFYa
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@BDMOFA) August 5, 2026
Dhaka raises concerns with India
Bangladesh said Hasina used the platform to make remarks against the state and its people. It added that allowing the event to go ahead ignored its concerns over the impact such a move could have on efforts to improve bilateral ties.
The government said the media interaction took place on the second anniversary of the July Revolution and called it “as an affront to the sovereignty of Bangladesh and a grievous insult” to those killed during the 2024 protests.
The statement also accused Hasina of denying findings recognised by the United Nations regarding the deaths of civilians during the July-August 2024 crackdown. It said attempts to rewrite those events had been rejected by the people of Bangladesh.
“The people of Bangladesh had already rejected such heinous attempts in the past and continue to do so now… Convicted mass murderer Hasina and her mafia enterprise will never have a place in the polity of Bangladesh,” it added.
Dhaka reiterated that it wanted a constructive relationship with India based on mutual respect and non-interference. However, it expressed disappointment that its repeated requests for Hasina’s extradition under the 2013 India-Bangladesh Extradition Treaty had not received a response.
“On the contrary, allowing her the opportunity to openly interact with the media under any pretext is deeply hurtful to our people’s sentiment and detrimental to the development of harmonious bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India,” the statement concluded.
Hasina vows return to Bangladesh
During her first public media appearance since fleeing to India during the August 2024 unrest, Hasina said she was determined to return to Bangladesh and “put the country back on the right track”.
“I know, they may put me in jail or kill me… I will go back home to be with my people,” she said, adding that the people of Bangladesh deserve a state that protects them, an economy that gives them opportunity and democracy that gives them rights.
Hasina also described India as a “great friend” of Bangladesh and ruled out any back-channel talks with the government in Dhaka.
Bangladesh is currently led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, whose party won February’s general election after the Awami League was barred from contesting.