The Bangladesh government has expressed deep shock and anger after fugitive Sheikh Hasina, convicted of crimes against humanity, was allowed to speak publicly in New Delhi. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 25, Hasina’s January 23 speech allegedly urged her followers and the public to engage in violent and terrorist acts to derail Bangladesh’s upcoming national election and overthrow the government.

Dhaka stated that it had repeatedly requested India to extradite Hasina under a bilateral treaty, but India had not acted on those requests. Instead, Bangladesh said, India permitted her to deliver an inflammatory speech that poses a serious threat to Bangladesh’s democratic progress, peace, and security. The government described the event’s approval as a violation of international norms of sovereignty, non-interference, and good-neighborly relations, calling it an insult to the Bangladeshi people and a dangerous precedent for future bilateral ties.

The statement further asserted that the interim government banned the Awami League due to such incitement and warned that the party would be held responsible for any election-related violence or terrorism.