• Bangladesh urges India to clarify its position on Hasina’s planned virtual speech.
• Hasina’s address is set for August 5, coinciding with the anniversary of her ousting.
• India affirms it has no involvement in the speech, emphasizing it is a private event.

Bangladesh has officially requested India to clarify its stance regarding former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s planned virtual address from New Delhi, expressing concerns that permitting political activities from a fugitive could strain ongoing bilateral relations. This plea is the first formal response from Dhaka about her scheduled appearance at an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia (FCCSA), which commemorates the two-year anniversary of the student-led uprising that ousted her. Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, highlighted the need for India to be "clear about its stance" amidst ongoing extradition efforts for Hasina, who has been living in India since fleeing in August 2024 due to multiple criminal cases against her, including a controversial death sentence for her actions during the protests, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The Indian government has responded to the situation by denying any involvement in organizing Hasina's speech. India's Ministry of External Affairs clarified that the event is "private" and that the government does not endorse any views expressed therein. Spokesman Randhir Jaiswal stated, "The interaction you are referring to is being organised by a private media entity," reinforcing that it does not reflect official Indian policy. Reports indicate that this event has triggered protests from Bangladeshi officials, who have met with Indian diplomats expressing their discontent with allowing Hasina’s activities on Indian soil, according to Al Jazeera.

Furthermore, Bangladesh has instituted a ban on local media from covering Hasina's speech, citing laws that prohibit the publication of her statements within the country. This move has drawn criticism from Hasina's Awami League party, which views the ban as an attempt to stifle dissent and intimidate journalists. Hasina, now 78, aims to return to Bangladesh by December despite the current political climate and prospects of further legal repercussions against her, as she continues to negotiate her status and future political ambitions from exile, as noted by Reuters and South China Morning Post.