Dhaka: Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused the country’s interim leadership of undermining relations with India, arguing that recent diplomatic strains are the result of hostile policies and failures in maintaining internal security.
Her comments come amid growing unrest in Bangladesh, including incidents of communal violence such as the killing of a Hindu man, and threats issued by radical groups against Indian diplomatic missions. New Delhi has publicly expressed concern over the safety of its personnel and properties in the country.
Speaking from India, where she has been living since being removed from office last year following mass protests, Hasina said the interim government led by Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus has created unnecessary friction with Bangladesh’s closest regional partner. According to her, repeated critical statements directed at India and an inability to safeguard religious minorities have contributed to rising tensions.
Hasina alleged that extremist groups have gained confidence under the current administration, accusing it of tolerating or even empowering actors responsible for attacks on minorities, media outlets, and diplomatic targets. She claimed that individuals with extremist backgrounds have been elevated to influential positions, while convicted militants have been released, creating what she described as an atmosphere of impunity.
India, she maintained, has long been a reliable ally of Bangladesh, playing a key role in its political and economic development. Any downturn in relations, she said, would be temporary and linked to the present political uncertainty. Once constitutional governance is restored, she added, bilateral ties would return to the cooperative framework built during her 15 years in power.
The remarks follow a series of diplomatic exchanges between New Delhi and Dhaka. India’s Ministry of External Affairs recently summoned Bangladesh’s envoy over protests and security breaches near Indian High Commissions. Bangladesh, for its part, had earlier called in India’s High Commissioner to protest what it described as political activities by Bangladeshi figures based in India ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for February.
New Delhi has denied those allegations, reiterating that it does not permit its territory to be used for actions that could destabilize Bangladesh and reaffirming its support for a peaceful, democratic process there.
Tensions have further intensified after the killing of Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot in Dhaka earlier this month and later died while undergoing treatment abroad. His death sparked nationwide protests, some of which extended to demonstrations outside Indian diplomatic facilities.
As political uncertainty continues in Bangladesh, observers say the future of India-Bangladesh relations may depend heavily on how the interim government addresses security concerns and navigates its foreign policy during the transition period.
