The Foreign Correspondents’ Club in New Delhi cancelled a planned seminar featuring several leaders of Bangladesh’s banned Awami League after Delhi Police refused permission at the last moment. In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the club said the event could not proceed because police had declined to authorize it. The club had previously promoted the seminar on its X account, including a leaflet detailing the topic and proposed speakers.

Scheduled speakers included Selim Mahmud, the Awami League’s information and research secretary, along with human rights activists, researchers and former Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Veena Sikri. FCC general secretary Prakash Nanda said police told organizers that permission was unavailable but declined to explain why the event had been stopped. Delhi Police made no formal statement on the matter.

A senior Delhi Police officer said police can cancel any event if there is concern that an unpleasant situation may arise. Attempts to obtain comments from multiple Awami League leaders were unsuccessful. Earlier this month, Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister, addressed another FCC seminar virtually, prompting an angry reaction from Dhaka and tensions between the two countries, according to the report.