DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, Touhid Hossain, has called on India to persuade its guest, ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to refrain from making political statements as a gesture to preserve bilateral relations.
Hasina, who fled to India on August 5 after 15 years in power, remains a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s political landscape from her exile. Her departure followed weeks of protests and a crackdown that resulted in numerous deaths.
After leaving office, Hasina continued to address her supporters from India, calling for investigations into the violence and alleging US involvement in her ouster.
Hossain, who was appointed as head of the interim government’s foreign affairs, expressed that while Hasina’s stay in India was originally seen as a refuge, her continued political activities are complicating diplomatic relations. “As long as she is in India, it would be beneficial for all parties if she refrained from making public statements,” Hossain said in an interview with Arab News.
The new government in Dhaka, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is keen on maintaining strong ties with India despite Hasina’s critical stance. Hossain also mentioned that any potential request for Hasina’s extradition to face trial in Bangladesh would be considered in due course, but for now, it is essential for her to remain silent to ease diplomatic tensions.
Hasina, now 76, had been a dominant force in Bangladeshi politics, and her actions from abroad continue to impact the political dynamics in her home country.