On 5 February, ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, currently in India after fleeing the country on 5 August in the face of a mass uprising, addressed supporters through the Facebook pages of the Awami League and its student wing, the banned organisation, Chhatra League.
This provoked widespread unrest in Bangladesh, culminating that very night in the demolition of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's residence at Dhanmondi 32 by enraged citizens.
Her remarks triggered a flurry of diplomatic activity, with both Bangladesh and India summoning each other's envoys in protest.
Against this backdrop, Foreign Affairs Adviser Thouhid Hossain is scheduled to meet Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Muscat next week during the Indian Ocean Conference.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Hossain will urge Jaishankar to prevent Hasina from making further statements that could destabilise Bangladesh, effectively seeking to "put a full stop" to her political rhetoric.
"We have formally requested India to restrain Hasina from issuing such remarks," confirmed Hossain, adding that Dhaka expects Delhi to uphold this request.
The meeting, slated for 16-17 February, comes amid a backdrop of strained Dhaka-Delhi relations following the political upheaval in Bangladesh.
Allegations of minority persecution in Bangladesh and attacks on its High Commissions in Kolkata and Agartala have further inflamed tensions.
Diplomatic ties appeared to thaw after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishra's visit to Dhaka last December—resulting in the mutual release of detained fishermen on 5 January—relations soured again in mid-January over border issues, including the construction of barbed-wire fencing.
This led to reciprocal diplomatic summons in Dhaka and New Delhi.
Hasina's latest statements have reignited tensions, prompting Bangladesh to lodge fresh protests with India. In response to India's condemnation of the demolition of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry described the comments as "unexpected" and "unwarranted," asserting that Dhaka refrains from commenting on the internal affairs of other nations and expects the same in return.
Further complicating matters, diplomatic sources reveal that Bangladesh may press for Hasina's extradition under existing bilateral agreements.
"If diplomatic efforts prove ineffective, subsequent measures will be considered," Hossain stated, emphasising Bangladesh's firm stance.
The upcoming meeting in Muscat marks the second encounter between Touhid Hossain and S Jaishankar, following their initial discussions on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last September.
In addition to bilateral issues, Hossain is expected to hold talks with Oman's foreign and agriculture ministers, as well as other regional dignitaries attending the conference.
