Sheikh Hasina's planned remarks have no connection with Indian government: Randhir Jaiswal

India has clarified its position amid discussions surrounding a planned address by ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, saying the event is being organised by a private body and has no connection with the Government of India.

Speaking at a regular media briefing on Tuesday (4 August), Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, said the programme was entirely a private initiative.

"If any views are expressed at that forum, they are not endorsed by the Government of India. It is purely a private event," Jaiswal said.
Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to address a press conference virtually on Wednesday (5 August), organised by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia in New Delhi.

The event coincides with the second anniversary of her removal from office.

Responding to questions at the briefing, Jaiswal also said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had been formally invited to visit India following his assumption of office in February this year.

He added that, as the current chair of BIMSTEC, Bangladesh's Prime Minister has also received a separate invitation from India to attend the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi in September.

Meanwhile, Dr Jahed Ur Rahman, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, urged all media outlets to refrain from broadcasting Sheikh Hasina's planned remarks in compliance with a court order.

He warned that the government would take necessary action against anyone found violating the court's directive.

Dr Rahman said the government had previously issued an advisory to media organisations on the matter.

He added that if any outlet announced in advance that Sheikh Hasina would deliver a speech and subsequently published or broadcast it, such action would amount to a violation of the court order.

On 30 July, a report presented to the Indian Parliament's Standing Committee on External Affairs stated that the Indian government had made it clear that Sheikh Hasina had not been allowed to use any political platform or Indian territory for political activities.

On Monday, Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir also raised Dhaka's concerns over Sheikh Hasina's proposed address during a meeting with India's newly appointed High Commissioner, Dinesh Trivedi.

According to Bangladesh, the planned speech could adversely affect the recent improvement in bilateral relations between the two countries.

Sheikh Hasina has been living in India since 5 August 2024, when she left Bangladesh following a mass uprising led by students and the public that brought an end to her government.

In November last year, the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her to death in absentia. Bangladesh has since made repeated requests to India for her extradition.