India denies role in Sheikh Hasina’s planned virtual address

NEW DELHI: India has firmly denied any government involvement in a virtual address that former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to deliver to mark two years since the political uprising that forced her from office.

The clarification came after reports suggested that the online event, scheduled to be held in New Delhi, had official backing. India’s Ministry of External Affairs rejected those claims, insisting the government has no connection with the programme.

Speaking at a weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the event was being organised by a private media organisation and not by the Indian government.

“The Government of India has no role in organising this event,” Jaiswal said. He added that New Delhi neither endorses nor supports the views that may be expressed during the programme.

The statement comes amid heightened political sensitivity surrounding Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in self-imposed exile in India since her government was toppled following student-led protests in 2024.

According to media reports, the 78-year-old former premier is expected to make her first public appearance since leaving Bangladesh, addressing supporters and viewers via video link from New Delhi.

The event is being hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia. Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, is also expected to participate alongside other speakers.

Meanwhile, authorities in Dhaka have reportedly instructed local media outlets not to broadcast or provide live coverage of Hasina’s virtual speech. The move reflects the continuing political tensions surrounding the former prime minister and her Awami League.

Sheikh Hasina remains one of the most influential and controversial figures in Bangladesh’s recent political history. After losing power, she was convicted in 2025 on charges of crimes against humanity linked to a crackdown on anti-government protesters. A court sentenced her to death, a verdict she has rejected as politically motivated and legally invalid.

Her planned address is expected to draw significant attention across South Asia, with supporters viewing it as a symbolic return to the political spotlight, while critics see it as another chapter in Bangladesh’s ongoing political divide.

India’s latest statement appears aimed at distancing itself from any perception of official involvement, as New Delhi seeks to avoid diplomatic friction with Dhaka while continuing to host the former Bangladeshi leader.

With regional attention focused on the event, Sheikh Hasina’s speech is likely to reignite debate over Bangladesh’s political future and her possible role in it.