What happened?
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on February 7, 2025 summoned Bangladesh’s Acting High Commissioner to India, Md. Nural Islam, to express concerns over continued negative remarks by Bangladeshi authorities regarding India.
Why it matters to India:
On February 6, 2025, Bangladesh formally lodged a strong protest with India over remarks made by deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, particularly concerning the alleged recent vandalism of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house. Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticised Hasina’s statements as “false and fabricated” and described her activities while in exile in India as a “hostile act.”
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in an official statement, said:
“Comments attributed to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have been made in her individual capacity, in which India has no role to play. Conflating this with the Government of India’s position will not contribute positively to bilateral relations. While the Government of India remains committed to fostering a mutually beneficial relationship, we expect Bangladesh to reciprocate in a similar manner without vitiating the atmosphere.”
This recent development came in the backdrop of India condemning the demolition of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence in Dhaka, calling it an act of vandalism that must be strongly denounced.