New Delhi, November 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for India-Bangladesh relations to remain insulated from political disagreements over her personal circumstances, stressing that the two neighbouring countries share historical bonds and strategic interests that must not be compromised.
In an exclusive audio interview with IANS, Hasina said she hoped her situation would not become an obstacle to bilateral ties, which date back to Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War and encompass cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity and security.
“I certainly hope my personal situation will not become an obstacle to relations between Bangladesh and India,” she said, adding that the relationship was too important to be held hostage to political disagreements involving any individual.
Asked about India’s position on her circumstances, Hasina said it would be inappropriate for her to comment on the decisions of the Indian government or its diplomatic policy, noting that India was a sovereign country with its own laws and procedures.
She also questioned objections to her proposed return to Bangladesh, claiming that both the former Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration and the present BNP government had repeatedly demanded her return.
Hasina said the Awami League had pursued friendly relations with neighbouring countries while safeguarding Bangladesh’s sovereignty and national interests. She cited cooperation with India alongside engagement with China, Japan, the United States and other countries during her tenure.
The former Prime Minister argued that durable relations between Dhaka and New Delhi required a democratically legitimate and representative government in Bangladesh, with broad public support. She said a government that excluded significant sections of the population from political life could not provide as strong a foundation for bilateral cooperation.
Emphasising that a peaceful, democratic and stable Bangladesh was in India’s interest, Hasina urged both countries to address disagreements through dialogue and mutual respect rather than political hostility.
Referring to the resolution of disputes over the land boundary, Ganges water-sharing and maritime boundaries, she said her government had demonstrated that difficult issues could be settled through negotiations.
Hasina reiterated the foreign policy principle of “friendship towards all and malice towards none”, articulated by Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and said the relationship built with India during her tenure should be preserved.
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