Private event, India does not endorse remarks made at forum: MEA on Sheikh Hasina media interaction

New Delhi:Reiterating its earlier stance, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said that the Indian government had no involvement in former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent virtual media interaction and that it does not endorse any remarks made at the event, particularly those concerning the duly constituted government in Dhaka.

Addressing a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the programme held in New Delhi on Wednesday was organised by a private entity.

“The government had no role to play in what was an event by a private media entity and the government does not endorse anything said at the forum, especially with regard to the duly constituted government of Bangladesh,” said Jaiswal, responding to a question on Hasina’s media interaction.

On Wednesday, addressing a press conference in New Delhi via an audio link, Hasina said that Bangladesh’s situation has worsened over the last two years with people continuing to live in an atmosphere of fear, insecurity and economic distress despite the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) assuming office following what she described as a “rigged election”.

Hasina, who has been living in exile in India for the past two years, also said that she would return to her home country by the year-end.

“Even after a rigged election brought the BNP to power, the situation did not change. Bangladesh remains in the grip of fear, terror, depression, economic hardship and deep insecurity,” said Hasina in her address to the media.

Following Hasina’s address, the BNP-led Bangladesh government described the former Prime Minister as an “absconding convicted genocider”, a “mass murderer” and the head of a “mafia enterprise” while referring to the anniversary of the 2024 July Revolution. Dhaka also urged New Delhi to extradite Hasina and termed the scheduled event featuring her an affront to Bangladesh’s sovereignty.

Several former ministers from Bangladesh strongly criticised the Tarique Rahman-led government over its remarks targeting Hasina and India, describing the administration’s political rhetoric as “juvenile” and accusing it of abandoning diplomatic decorum while attempting to suppress dissenting voices.

Joining the media interaction on Wednesday virtually from the US, Hasina’s son and former Advisor, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, had thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the Indian government had “shown her the utmost respect and for that I’m eternally grateful”.

Wazed also alleged that Bangladesh has become “another Pakistan” on India’s Eastern front, where foreign intelligence agencies, “including ISI”, have an “open hand” and warned of terror elements operating “openly”.

Responding to allegations made by Wazed, the MEA spokesperson on Friday said that India was “closely” following developments in its neighbourhood and would take all necessary measures to protect national security interests.

“We continue to closely follow developments that happen in our neighbourhood. Keeping in mind our national security interests and whatever measures have to be taken in that regard, we take those to secure our interests,” Jaiswal mentioned while responding to a query on the remarks made by Wazed Joy.

IANS