MEA distances Govt from Hasina event
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday stated that the Government of India has no connection with a media programme in New Delhi that is expected to feature former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The ministry emphasized that the event is being organised independently by a private organisation and does not represent the views or position of the Indian Government.
Speaking at the MEA’s regular media briefing, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified that the Centre has neither participated in the planning of the event nor endorsed any statements that may be made during the interaction.
“The event in question is being organised by a private media entity. The Government of India has no involvement in it and does not endorse any opinions that may be expressed during the programme,” Jaiswal said.
The clarification follows reports that Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to address an event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in New Delhi on August 5 through a virtual platform. Bangladesh has reportedly conveyed its concerns to India, arguing that such an appearance could have implications for the recent improvement in bilateral relations between the two countries.
The matter was discussed during a meeting in Dhaka between Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and India’s newly appointed High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, as both sides reviewed issues concerning bilateral ties.
During the briefing, Jaiswal also confirmed that India had extended a formal invitation to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for a bilateral visit after he assumed office in February 2026.
He further said Rahman has been invited to participate in the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in his capacity as the current Chair of BIMSTEC. According to the MEA, inviting leaders of regional organisations to the outreach segment is a standard practice followed by the BRICS grouping.
Officials in Bangladesh have confirmed receipt of the invitation, adding that the proposal has been forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office for a decision. They noted that Bangladesh’s participation would also align with its current leadership role in BIMSTEC, ahead of the organisation’s 30th anniversary celebrations and the summit scheduled to be hosted in Dhaka in 2027.
The 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026.
