Bangladesh seeks India’s stand on Sheikh Hasina’s Aug 5 virtual address

DHAKA: Ahead of former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s likely Aug 5 virtual address, state minister for foreign affairs Shama Obaed Islam Monday asked India to clarify whether it supports the online meeting of the Awami League chief.The event at Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in Delhi will be Hasina’s first public appearance, exactly two years after massive protests led to her govt’s ouster and she fled Bangladesh.“We are moving forward with India with a forward-looking approach. We don’t want it to be damaged, and I firmly believe that India doesn’t want it either. So, India has to clarify whether it is supporting it or not,” she said while addressing reporters at ministry of foreign affairs.Asked about Hasina and other Awami League members staying abroad, the minister stressed though Indian govt is not organising the programme, “India has to clarify because they are in India.”Meanwhile, PM Tarique Rahman’s foreign affairs adviser Humaiun Kobir, during a meeting with Indian high commissioner Dinesh Trivedi at Prime Minister’s Office Monday, said Dhaka expects New Delhi’s cooperation in ensuring that any person from the banned Awami League, including Hasina, does not use Indian territory to make political statements or conduct activities aimed at creating instability within Bangladesh.Shama Obaed said Bangladesh could “communicate” with India on the event if it considers it necessary. “Dhaka does not want the issue to undermine bilateral relations,” she said, claiming New Delhi had indicated it did not expect a fugitive accused to make political statements from Indian territory — Hasina has been sentenced to death.She said political activities by fugitives from India that seek to create instability in Bangladesh could negatively affect bilateral relations. Asked about the invitation to PM Tarique Rahman to attend Brics Summit in Sept in Delhi, she indicated no decision had been taken yet.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.