Updated on: November 12, 2025 | 10:21 PM IST

NEW DELHI: A fresh diplomatic tension erupted between India and Bangladesh on Wednesday after Dhaka summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe to lodge a formal protest over recent media interviews given by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in self-exile in India since August 2024.

The Bangladesh foreign ministry conveyed its “serious concern” over what it described as India’s “allowing a fugitive on trial for crimes against humanity to freely interact with the mainstream media,” and demanded that her access to journalists be “immediately discontinued.” The move marked one of the strongest diplomatic signals yet from Dhaka since the collapse of Hasina’s government last year, underscoring the widening gulf between the two neighbours.

Background: Hasina’s Exile and Interviews

Sheikh Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for nearly 15 years before being ousted amid massive student-led protests in August 2024, has been living in India since her departure from Dhaka. The protests that led to her downfall were initially triggered by anger over government corruption, unemployment, and the handling of quota reforms, eventually culminating in violent clashes and a military-backed interim government taking charge.

Five days ago, Hasina gave a series of interviews to Indian media outlets, including Hindustan Times, in what was her first interaction with Indian journalists since she fled Bangladesh. In these interviews, Hasina spoke about her government’s ouster, the ongoing trials against her in absentia, and the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, sharply criticizing its policies and calling the regime “illegitimate” and “oppressive.”

Her remarks — including accusations that Dhaka’s current authorities were conducting “a political witch hunt” against her supporters — have angered the interim government, which has portrayed Hasina as a “fugitive facing charges of crimes against humanity.”

Dhaka’s Protest and Demands

Following Hasina’s media interactions, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe to register a formal diplomatic protest.

According to a statement published by state-run BSS news agency, Dhaka accused New Delhi of “harbouring a notorious fugitive” and “providing her a platform to spew hatred and misinformation.” The ministry’s communication described the development as “unhelpful to fostering a constructive bilateral relationship.”

“Bangladesh expects its closest neighbours and partners to act responsibly and refrain from facilitating the spread of disinformation and divisive narratives by those facing serious charges in their home country,” a senior diplomatic source told BSS.

Dhaka further requested that India “immediately discontinue Hasina’s access to media”, arguing that her remarks were fueling instability and resentment back home.

India’s Response: Press Freedom at the Core

While the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not issued an official statement, sources familiar with the development indicated that the Indian side conveyed to Dhaka that India’s media operates independently and is not controlled by the government.

“India maintains a long-standing commitment to freedom of the press. Media outlets are free to interview any individual residing in the country as long as they are not violating Indian law,” one person familiar with the matter said.

The Indian government, the sources added, views the summoning of a senior diplomat over media interactions as “unwarranted” and “contrary to democratic values.”

Double Standards Alleged

Officials in New Delhi have also expressed quiet surprise over Dhaka’s selective outrage, noting that Sheikh Hasina had previously given interviews to British and French media outlets without any diplomatic protests being lodged against their envoys.

“What makes this instance different is not the content of Hasina’s statements but the fact that the interviews were conducted by Indian journalists,” a South Block official remarked.

Adding to the strain, comments made by Shafiqul Alam, spokesperson for interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus, describing the Indian journalists who interviewed Hasina as “bootlicking media personnel”, have drawn strong condemnation in New Delhi.

Media Fraternity Reacts Strongly

The Press Club of India (PCI) issued a strongly worded statement condemning Alam’s remarks as “unwarranted and unbecoming of a person in public office.”

“To describe professionals from responsible media outlets pursuing a genuine news story as ‘bootlicking’ journalists is especially reprehensible,” the PCI said, demanding an apology from Alam and calling on Dhaka to uphold journalistic freedom.

Media associations in India noted that Hasina’s interviews were legitimate journalistic exercises aimed at understanding the political developments in Bangladesh, which have major regional implications.

The Deepening Rift in Bilateral Relations

Relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated sharply since the caretaker administration led by Muhammad Yunus took office in August 2024. India, once one of the strongest supporters of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government, has grown increasingly wary of the interim government’s treatment of minorities, particularly Hindus and pro-India groups.

New Delhi has repeatedly raised concerns about the worsening law and order situation, alleged human rights abuses, and the persecution of Awami League workers under the new regime.

Bangladesh, on its part, has accused India of shielding Sheikh Hasina and refusing to cooperate with its requests for her extradition to face trial on charges including corruption and alleged human rights violations during her tenure. India has not acted on these requests, citing legal complexities and Hasina’s status as a political asylum-seeker.

Why This Episode Matters

The latest episode could further strain diplomatic relations between the two South Asian neighbours, already grappling with mistrust and competing narratives about democracy and human rights.

For India, Sheikh Hasina remains a pivotal figure who historically maintained close ties with New Delhi, strengthened counterterrorism cooperation, and advanced economic and energy connectivity projects. However, openly supporting her at a time when she faces legal proceedings in Bangladesh risks complicating India’s regional diplomacy.

For Dhaka, summoning the Indian diplomat was a signal meant to assert sovereignty and to warn New Delhi against what it perceives as interference in domestic affairs. Yet, the move also risks drawing international attention to Bangladesh’s ongoing political crisis and the legitimacy of its caretaker government.

Expert Reactions

Diplomatic observers have described the incident as a “predictable escalation.”
“Dhaka’s decision to summon the Indian envoy reflects growing insecurity within the interim government,” said former Indian ambassador Pinak Chakravarty. “It also underscores the difficulty of balancing press freedom with sensitive bilateral issues when exiled leaders speak from abroad.”

Meanwhile, Bangladeshi political analyst Dr. Tasneem Chowdhury noted that “the government’s response reveals its anxiety over Sheikh Hasina’s continued influence.” She added, “Despite her exile, Hasina still commands loyalty among significant sections of Bangladesh’s population and bureaucracy.”

The Road Ahead

While both sides have avoided direct confrontation, diplomatic tensions remain palpable. Analysts expect India to tread carefully, maintaining a balance between its principle of non-interference and its historical friendship with the Awami League.

As Bangladesh’s internal political climate remains volatile, Hasina’s periodic public appearances and interviews are likely to continue drawing international attention — and possibly, more diplomatic reactions from Dhaka.

For now, both nations face a delicate challenge: preserving bilateral ties amid political turbulence and navigating a situation where media freedom, exile politics, and cross-border sensitivities are tightly intertwined.

In a region already fraught with strategic and political competition, the Hasina interview row serves as another reminder that diplomacy, media, and domestic politics can often collide in unpredictable and consequential ways.