Delhi dismisses Dhaka claim of allowing anti-Bangladesh activities

DHAKA/NEW DELHI: Batting aside Bangladesh's charge that members of the banned Awami League were carrying out political activities from India, New Delhi on Wednesday said it is not aware of purported members of the Sheikh Hasina-led party being engaged in anti-Bangladesh acts on Indian soil.

Reacting to a statement of foreign office in Dhaka that Awami League had offices in Delhi and Kolkata, MEA asserted that India's consistent position has been not to allow activities against other countries from its soil. "The press statement by interim govt of Bangladesh is thus misplaced. India reiterates its expectation that free, fair and inclusive elections will be held at the earliest in Bangladesh to ascertain the will and mandate of the people," ministry of external affairs said.

In its statement, the Bangladesh ministry of foreign affairs said the Indian govt must not permit or support any anti-Bangladesh activities in any manner and asked for "an immediate closure of the political office(s) of the banned Awami League on Indian soil". Hasina, who is being tried for "crimes against humanity" in Bangladesh in absentia, had fled to India after a "mass uprising" led to the fall of her govt last year.

"This (anti-Bangladesh activities) may trigger public sentiment in the country which may in turn impact ongoing efforts of the two countries in further enhancing the relationship between the two closest neighbours," the ministry said.

It said that "the attention of Bangladesh govt has been drawn to the reported establishment of offices of the banned political party in Delhi and Kolkata". Dhaka also claimed that "on July 21, 2025, evening, under the garb of a nondescript NGO, some senior Awami League netas planned to hold a public outreach at the Delhi Press Club and eventually distributed booklets among the attending members of the press".

This development comes in the backdrop of "growing anti-Bangladesh activities undertaken by the Awami League leadership from being based on Indian soil," the ministry claimed. "Many of senior leaders, absconding in criminal cases in Bangladesh on account of grievous crimes committed against humanity, remain in Indian territory," it said.