India's Ministry of External Affairs said Tuesday that the government has no involvement in a planned virtual address by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina [1].
The disclaimer comes as New Delhi seeks to maintain a neutral diplomatic stance while Hasina remains in the country. Any perceived state endorsement of the former leader could complicate India's current relations with the governing authorities in Bangladesh.
Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said that the event is being organized by a private media entity [2]. He said that the Indian government is not involved with the virtual address and does not endorse the proceeding [2].
The address is scheduled to take place in New Delhi, though specific dates for the event were not provided in the government's statement [1]. The clarification follows a period of media speculation regarding the nature of Hasina's residency and the level of support she receives from the Indian state.
Hasina has remained in self-exile in India following her departure from power in Bangladesh. Some reports indicate she is expected to return to Bangladesh by December [1].
The government's decision to distance itself from the private media event highlights the tension between providing refuge to a former ally and managing the geopolitical sensitivities of a neighboring state. By labeling the event as a private venture, the ministry aims to prevent the address from being viewed as an official diplomatic gesture from the Indian government [2].
“The Indian government is not involved with the virtual address and does not endorse the proceeding.”
This move by the Ministry of External Affairs is a strategic effort to avoid diplomatic friction with the current administration in Bangladesh. By explicitly decoupling the state from Hasina's private media appearances, India is attempting to signal that it is not using the former Prime Minister as a political tool to influence Bangladeshi internal affairs.
