NEW DELHI — In a bid to defuse an escalating diplomatic rift with Dhaka, the Ministry of External Affairs clarified on Friday that the Union Government had no involvement in organizing former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent press conference in New Delhi and does not endorse her statements against the interim administration in Bangladesh. The clarification comes a day after Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly criticized the event, asserting that permitting Hasina to address the media from Indian territory damaged public sentiment and complicated efforts to rebuild bilateral ties.
Addressing the weekly diplomatic briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that the media interaction was conducted independently by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club without state sponsorship or endorsement. Jaiswal stated that New Delhi does not support the remarks made during the session, particularly those directed against the current governing authorities in Dhaka. The statement marks India’s most explicit effort to separate its official foreign policy stance from political declarations made by the exiled leader and her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
During the virtual press address held on Wednesday, Hasina defended her administration’s handling of the July-August 2024 political unrest while accusing the interim regime of weakening democratic institutions. Sajeeb Wazed Joy similarly leveled serious allegations, claiming that extremist elements were being rehabilitated and warning of shifting security dynamics in the region. While declining to validate those specific statements, the MEA spokesperson maintained that India remains vigilant regarding regional security developments, emphasizing that all necessary measures are continuously reviewed to safeguard national interests and maintain stability across neighboring borders.
