Bangladesh has strongly criticized India for allowing Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister and fugitive leader, to make what it considers "inciteful" statements from Indian soil. This development has further strained the already turbulent relationship between the two nations following Hasina's ouster in August 2024.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Bangladesh stated on January 25, 2026, that the government and its people were "shocked" that Hasina, convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for crimes against humanity, was permitted to speak at a public event in New Delhi on January 23. According to MoFA, Hasina openly called for the removal of the current Bangladesh government and incited her party loyalists and the public to commit acts of terror to disrupt the upcoming general elections. The ministry asserted that Hasina's remarks demonstrated why the interim government had to ban Awami League's activities. They added that Bangladesh would hold this "outfit" responsible for any violence and terror leading up to and during the elections and will take actions to prevent their conspiracies.
Bangladesh is particularly aggrieved that India has not yet acted on its obligations to hand Hasina over to Bangladesh under the bilateral extradition agreement, despite repeated requests. Instead, India allowed her to make "inciteful" pronouncements from its own soil, which Bangladesh believes endangers its democratic transition, peace, and security. MoFA considers allowing Hasina to deliver her "hate speech" in the Indian capital as contrary to the norms of inter-state relations, including respect for sovereignty, non-interference, and good neighborliness, and a clear affront to the people and government of Bangladesh. They believe this sets a dangerous precedent for the future of Bangladesh-India relations and may seriously impair the ability of any future elected government in Bangladesh to engage in mutually beneficial bilateral relations.
Hasina, who has been in exile in India for about six months after her government fell due to a "student-people uprising," has been directly targeting Professor Muhammad Yunus and student coordinators, describing them as "terrorists and militants". The interim government had previously requested India to prevent Hasina from speaking out, describing her earlier remarks and phone calls as interference in Bangladesh's domestic affairs.
India, however, has distanced itself from Hasina's statements, clarifying that her comments were made in her individual capacity and that India has no role to play. Despite this, Bangladesh views Hasina's statements and activities while in exile in India as a "hostile act". They have requested that India prevent her from making further speeches, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and the historical relationship between the two countries.
The presence of Sheikh Hasina in India has become a significant irritant in bilateral ties. The current crisis is driven by internal politics, security fears, and a growing trust deficit. The relationship between the two countries has been further strained by disputes over the border, trade restrictions, and inflammatory rhetoric. Some reports indicate that anti-India sentiment is rising in Bangladesh, with narratives advocating territorial revisionism.
