Dhaka has called upon Delhi for immediate steps to close the political offices of the Bangladesh Awami League, activities of which have recently been banned, and to ensure that no anti-Bangladesh activity is undertaken by any Bangladesh national on Indian soil.
In response, India has said that it is not aware of any anti-Bangladesh activities by purported members of the Awami League in India.
Bangladesh鈥檚 foreign ministry, in a press statement issued on Wednesday in Dhaka, said that Bangladesh government鈥檚 attention has been drawn to 鈥榯he reported establishment of offices of the banned political party Bangladesh Awami League in the Indian capital of Delhi and Kolkata鈥�.
鈥楾he Government of Bangladesh, therefore, would urge upon the Government of India to take immediate steps to ensure that no anti-Bangladesh activity is undertaken by any Bangladesh national from being in the Indian soil, including not permitting or supporting any such activities in any manner and an immediate closure of the political office(s) of the banned Bangladesh Awami League on the Indian soil,鈥� said the statement.
In response to media queries on the press statement issued by the interim government of Bangladesh, Indian external affairs ministry鈥檚 official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, 鈥楾he Government of India is not aware of any anti-Bangladesh activities by purported members of the Awami League in India or of any action that is contrary to Indian law.鈥�
The Indian government did not allow political activities against other countries to be carried out from Indian soil, he said, adding that the press statement by the interim government of Bangladesh was thus misplaced.
鈥業ndia 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,鈥� the spokesperson, however, said.
Deposed prime minister and AL president Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024 amid a student-led mass uprising, bringing an end to her 15-year authoritarian rule.
Many senior leaders and activists of the Awami League have also reportedly taken shelter in India after the fall of the Awami League regime.
On May 10, the interim government announced a ban on all activities of the Awami League until the trial of the party and its leaders by the International Crimes Tribunal.
Bangladesh foreign ministry鈥檚 Wednesday statement mentioned that the development came in the backdrop of growing anti-Bangladesh activities undertaken by Awami League leaders from being based on the Indian soil.
鈥楳any of the senior leaders of the Party, absconding in several criminal cases in Bangladesh on account of grievous crimes committed against humanity remain in the Indian territory,鈥� the statement said.
On July 21, 2025 evening, under the garb of an indescript NGO, some of the senior leaders of the Awami League planned to hold a public outreach at the Delhi Press Club and eventually distributed booklets among the attending members of the press, it said, adding that to date, several reports in Indian media affirm increasing overtures of the party while being on the Indian soil.
鈥楢ny form of political activity campaigning against the interests of Bangladesh by Bangladesh nationals, particularly by the absconding leaders or activists of a banned political party, staying on Indian soil, legally or illegally, including the establishment of offices is an unambiguous affront against the people and state of Bangladesh,鈥� it said.
鈥楾his development also risks upholding the good-neighborly relations with India driven by mutual trust and mutual respect, and lends serious implications for the political transformation underway in Bangladesh.鈥�
This may also trigger public sentiment in Bangladesh, which may in turn impact the ongoing efforts of the two countries in further enhancing the relationship between the two closest neighbours, the statement said.
