India's Ministry of External Affairs said it is not involved in a virtual address delivered by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The clarification comes as the Indian government seeks to distance itself from the event to avoid diplomatic friction amid ongoing controversy surrounding the former prime minister's status. Because the event was organized by a private entity, New Delhi is asserting that the address does not represent an official government action.
Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, addressed the issue on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026 [1]. He said that the ministry is not involved in the virtual address organized by a private entity [1]. This statement serves to decouple the Indian state from the activities of Hasina, who has remained a focal point of regional political tension.
This denial follows previous government communications regarding the former prime minister. During a press briefing on July 15, 2026 [2], Jaiswal addressed different concerns regarding Hasina's situation. At that time, he said there is no change in the government's position regarding the matter [2].
While the recent controversy centers on the virtual speech, other reports have framed the broader tension around the potential extradition of the former prime minister. The Indian government's insistence that the virtual event was a private affair is intended to clarify that no official diplomatic channel was used to facilitate the speech.
Jaiswal's remarks on Aug. 4, 2026 [1], reinforce the position that the Indian state is not coordinating these specific public appearances. The government continues to maintain its established stance on the overall legal, and diplomatic status of the former leader.
“"The Ministry of External Affairs is not involved in the virtual address organised by a private entity."”
The Indian government is attempting to maintain a neutral diplomatic posture by categorizing Sheikh Hasina's public communications as private activities. By explicitly denying involvement in the virtual address, New Delhi aims to prevent the event from being interpreted as an official endorsement or a breach of diplomatic protocols with the current Bangladeshi administration.
