Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is slated to hold a virtual press conference in New Delhi soon, was in the spotlight on Tuesday as the Indian government had a chat to clarify that it was not involved in her media get-together.
In a weekly media interaction, External Affairs ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal replied that the government neither did nor endorsed the event and any views expressed during it.
The interaction is being arranged by a private media organization, and the Government of India is not involved in it otherwise. It does not vouch for any opinion which may be voiced at the forum, Jaiswal said.
The clarity followed a day after a high-ranking official to the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, reportedly raised concerns with India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, in Dhaka about the push for the proposed summit’s timing, which they believe may lead to a “bad impact” on bilateral ties.
Hasina will speak at the virtual press conference on August 5 from New Delhi and will elaborate on her ideas of Bangladesh and detail her plans to return home after almost two years in self-exile.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has warned its media against broadcasting or publicising Hasina’s speech. Information Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said it would infringe on a December 2024 decision of the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal which banned the media and social media from reporting Hasina’s speeches or statements.
After the government of a former prime minister fell in Bangladesh amidst big student protests, she has been residing in the country since August 2024. She had already said she would be coming back to Bangladesh by December.