ISLAMABAD: In a pointed escalation of diplomatic tensions, the Foreign Affairs Adviser to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarique Rahman has labeled ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a “terrorist” and urged India to restrain her and her Awami League party, asserting they have no place in Bangladesh’s future.
This statement marks the first major shock to India from Bangladesh’s newly elected government, signaling potential strains in bilateral relations following the BNP’s landslide victory in the February 2026 general elections.
The adviser, Humayun Kabir, emphasized that India bears the responsibility to prevent Hasina from destabilizing Bangladesh, especially after her recent public address from New Delhi where she criticized the interim government and called for unrest.
Hasina fled to India in August 2024 amid massive student-led protests that ended her 15-year rule, during which over 1,500 people were reportedly killed in crackdowns, according to human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
The protests, initially sparked by opposition to a controversial job quota system, evolved into a broader anti-government movement, leading to Hasina’s resignation and the formation of an interim government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal convicted Hasina in absentia for crimes against humanity related to the 2024 uprising, sentencing her to death in November 2025, a verdict that intensified demands for her extradition.
Data from the Bangladesh health ministry indicates that at least 700 protesters died from gunshot wounds during the July-August 2024 violence, with thousands more injured or detained under Hasina’s administration.
The interim government sent multiple diplomatic notes to India, including a formal note verbale in December 2024, requesting Hasina’s return for judicial processes under the bilateral extradition treaty signed in 2013.
India has yet to respond positively to these requests, citing the need to examine the matter constructively, as stated by its Ministry of External Affairs in November 2025.
Tensions peaked in January 2026 when Hasina delivered her first public address since exile, via audio at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in New Delhi, accusing Yunus of being a “murderous fascist” and urging her supporters to derail the upcoming elections.
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry expressed “surprise and shock” in a statement, calling the event a “clear affront” and a “dangerous precedent” that could impair bilateral ties, as reported by Al Jazeera and NDTV.
The ministry highlighted that allowing Hasina, convicted of mass murder, to incite violence from Indian soil violated norms of sovereignty and non-interference.
This incident underscored Dhaka’s grievances, with officials noting that despite repeated appeals, India had not progressed on extradition while permitting Hasina’s political activities.
The BNP’s victory in the February 12, 2026, elections, where it secured over 250 seats in the 300-member parliament according to the Election Commission of Bangladesh, has emboldened the new administration to renew these demands.
Tarique Rahman, son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and a key figure exiled in London since 2008, returned to Bangladesh post-election, vowing to prioritize accountability for past atrocities.
Economic data from the World Bank shows that under Hasina, Bangladesh achieved GDP growth averaging 6.5 percent annually from 2009 to 2023, but this came amid allegations of corruption, with Transparency International ranking the country 147th out of 180 in its 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Critics argue that Hasina’s regime suppressed opposition, with over 10,000 BNP members arrested between 2018 and 2024, as per party records.
India-Bangladesh trade reached $15.9 billion in 2023-24, with India exporting $13.2 billion in goods like petroleum and textiles, while importing $2.7 billion, primarily jute and garments, according to India’s commerce ministry.
Shared concerns over water resources, such as the Teesta River agreement stalled since 2011, and border security have historically bound the neighbors, but recent events have strained these ties.
Bangladesh accused India of failing to protect religious minorities during Hasina’s rule, with reports from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council documenting over 2,000 attacks on minorities between 2013 and 2024.
In December 2025, Hasina blamed the Yunus government for the stressed relations, claiming it issued hostile statements against India.
However, BNP leaders like Kabir argue that India’s close association with Hasina alienated the Bangladeshi people, urging New Delhi to reset ties by engaging with the elected government.
Regional analysts from the Institute of South Asian Studies in Singapore note that India’s strategic interests, including countering Chinese influence in the Bay of Bengal, make Hasina’s presence a delicate issue.
China’s investments in Bangladesh under the Belt and Road Initiative totaled $26 billion by 2025, dwarfing India’s $7 billion in development assistance.
The United States, through Ambassador Brent T Christensen’s meeting with Bangladesh’s foreign adviser in February 2026, expressed support for bilateral dialogue to resolve the impasse.
Pakistan, historically aligned with BNP due to shared anti-Hasina sentiments, has welcomed the election results, with state media highlighting Kabir’s statement.
Human rights groups, including the Coalition for Human Rights and Democracy in Bangladesh, have echoed calls for Hasina’s extradition to ensure justice for victims.
The adviser’s remarks come amid speculation of Hasina seeking asylum in a third country, though no confirmation has emerged, as stated by Bangladesh’s foreign adviser Touhid Hossain in December 2025.
India’s dilemma is compounded by domestic politics, with opposition parties criticizing the government for sheltering a convicted leader, potentially affecting its image in South Asia.
Bangladesh’s new government has prioritized reforms, including electoral changes that saw voter turnout exceed 80 percent in 2026, up from 41 percent in the disputed 2024 polls under Hasina.
Economic projections from the Asian Development Bank forecast 6.8 percent growth for Bangladesh in 2026, but political stability hinges on resolving the Hasina issue.
Kabir’s statement reflects a broader sentiment in Bangladesh, where public opinion polls by Gallup in late 2025 showed 72 percent favoring Hasina’s trial at home.
As Dhaka presses forward, the ball is in India’s court to navigate this challenge without further eroding trust.
Failure to act could lead to retaliatory measures, such as revisiting transit agreements or energy deals, including the Adani Power supply contract valued at $1.5 billion annually.
Ultimately, restraining Hasina’s influence may be key to restoring equilibrium in Indo-Bangladesh relations, ensuring regional peace amid shifting power dynamics.