New Delhi, August 4: Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, will address an event virtually on August 5. Recently, she expressed her desire to return to her country by December. Will this decision prove to be correct? What impact might it have on India-Bangladesh relations? Former diplomat and Bangladesh’s ex-High Commissioner, Veena Sikri, shed light on these possibilities in a recent interview.
Veena Sikri, who served as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, noted, “Exactly two years ago, on August 5, 2024, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to India and has been here since. She has been living under the patronage of the Indian government. While she has remained quiet for a long time, she is free to communicate with her people. She meets with them and is free to talk to others. After being away for two years, her desire to return to her country is not wrong.”
Discussing the student movements in Bangladesh during 2024, Sikri stated, “What happened was not just a result of student anger; it was part of a planned political strategy to change the power dynamics. I say this because the people of Bangladesh are still unhappy. They are struggling economically, facing high unemployment, and there is a lack of foreign investment. Overall, nothing is happening as was promised. In this context, I believe Sheikh Hasina has decided to return, and I think she will emphasize this during her press conference on August 5.”
Could Sheikh Hasina’s virtual address from India affect bilateral relations? Sikri responded, “I don’t think so. This is not a political activity. She wants to return to Bangladesh. The court there has sentenced her to death without allowing her to present her case. Her lawyer was also not given a chance to speak. The judicial process did not appear fair. Therefore, she wants to go back and appeal against her sentence. She should be allowed to do so. This is not a political issue, and I don’t believe it could create a rift in India-Bangladesh relations.”
She further stated that Hasina is a guest in our country and has every right to stay here. She is not involved in any political activities. She is not a prisoner; she is free and has the right to express herself.
According to Sikri, Bangladesh was not always comfortable with India’s High Commissioner. Our High Commissioner has been a cabinet minister and is close to PM Modi. They have raised this issue as well. While their ministers may say otherwise, our government has clearly stated its commitment to normalizing and easing relations.
The former diplomat also mentioned the recent visit of U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gore to Bangladesh, where he met with leaders of the Awami League in Dhaka. “He did not meet with organizations like Jamaat-e-Islami. He also met with representatives of ethnic parties. Gore is also the regional ambassador for South Asia and Central Asia. Therefore, I don’t think this will be a significant issue. If he met with all these groups and it was not deemed a political act, then how can Sheikh Hasina’s return be considered a political matter?”
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