Bangladesh Protests to India Over Ousted PM Sheikh Hasina’s Activities During Visit

Bangladesh on Thursday lodged a strong protest against what it said were "false and fabricated" statements by former premier Sheikh Hasina, currently in self-exile in New Delhi, and sought "appropriate measures" to stop her from making "incendiary" remarks on social media.

Bangladesh's foreign ministry handed over a protest note to India's acting high commissioner in Dhaka a day after Hasina made a speech on her Awami League party's social media channels during which she accused interim government chief Muhammad Yunus of conspiring to kill her and her sister Sheikh Rehana.

There was no official word from the Indian side on the development. After stepping down in the face of nationwide protests last August, Hasina fled to India. Her presence in the country has emerged as an irritant in bilateral ties and the interim government in Dhaka has often bristled over her speeches on social media, during which she has attacked Yunus.

A statement from the foreign ministry in Dhaka said it lodged a strong protest with the Indian government over "false and fabricated comments and statements continuously being made in different platforms" by Hasina as this is "instigating instability in Bangladesh".

The protest note submitted to the acting Indian high commissioner stated that Bangladesh was "deeply concerned, disappointed and seriously reserving" because Hasina's statements were "hurting the sentiments of the people. Her activities are "considered as a hostile act towards Bangladesh" and not helpful to the efforts of having a healthy relationship between the two countries, according to the foreign ministry.

The foreign ministry sought that the government of India urge upon her "to immediately take appropriate measures, in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding, to stop [Hasina] from making such false, fabricated and incendiary statements using social media and other communications while she is in India".