Bangladesh protests India over Hasina media appearance

Bangladesh has issued a sharp diplomatic protest against India, condemning its decision to allow former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to address the media from New Delhi. The event, which took place on August 5, has escalated tensions between the two neighbors, with Dhaka calling it an affront to its sovereignty and a grievous insult to those killed during the 2024 protests that ended Hasina's rule.

In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was "outraged" that Hasina, whom it described as an "absconding convicted genocider," was permitted to engage in a live media interaction on Indian soil. The ministry stated it had conveyed its concerns to New Delhi in advance, warning that the event could undermine ongoing efforts to reset bilateral relations. It characterized the timing, on the second anniversary of what it calls the July Revolution, as particularly provocative.

Hasina, 78, participated in the audio-only event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia, marking her first public media appearance since she fled to India in August 2024 amid widespread unrest. During her address, she vowed to return to...