‘Comments made in individual capacity’: India summons Bangladesh envoy after Dhaka’s ‘strong protest’ over Sheikh Hasina’s remarks | India News

Ex-Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina (File photo)

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh’s Acting High Commissioner to India, Md. Nural Islam, on Friday to express concerns over recent statements from Bangladesh authorities that portray India in a” negative light”.
The statement released by the MEA in response to media queries, quoting spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal read, “The Bangladesh Acting High Commissioner to India, Mr. Md. Nural Islam, was summoned by MEA to the South Block today, February 7, 2025, at 5:00 pm.”
Further giving details of the summons, MEA added, “It was conveyed that India desires a positive, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh, which has been reiterated several times in recent high-level meetings.”
Then the expressed dissatisfaction over the comments made by Bangladesh authorities stating, “It is, however, regrettable that regular statements made by Bangladesh authorities continue to portray India negatively, holding us responsible for internal governance issues. These statements by Bangladesh are in fact responsible for the persistent negativity.”
The statement also clarified that comments attributed to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were ” made in her individual capacity in which India has no role to play”. “Conflating this with the Government of India’s position is not going to help add positivity to bilateral relations,” also said the MEA.

This comes a day after Bangladesh’s foreign ministry summoned India’s acting high commissioner in Dhaka and lodged a strong protest over statements made by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while in exile in India. Bangladesh formally requested India in writing to prevent Hasina from making further remarks, stating that her comments were “false and fabricated” and are “considered as a hostile act”.
The recent tensions started when Hasina responded emotionally to the recent vandalism of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house in Dhaka. She condemned the attack, drawing comparisons to history and warning that “history takes its revenge.” She also urged citizens to resist the current administration, criticizing the destruction of structures linked to Bangladesh’s independence and national identity.