Bangladesh lodges 'strong protest', summons Indian envoy over Hasina's speech on Mujib's house

Hasina has been living in India ever since she had fled from the capital city of Bangladesh on August 5, 2024

Bangladesh has formally lodged a "strong protest" with India after Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in a virtual address, condemned the demolition of the historic residence of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhaka.

Muhammad Yunus’ interim government summoned India’s acting High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pawan Badhe, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka and handed over to him a note of protest over the “provocative” statements of Sheikh Hasina from India.

"We called India's deputy high commissioner (Pawan Badhe), as the high commissioner was not here, and handed him our protest note," Foreign Affairs Adviser M Touhid Hossain told reporters at a briefing at his office.

He described Hasina's recent statements as "highly aggressive", suggesting that they could have offended the sentiments of the younger generation.

Hasina delivered the speech on Wednesday night after  protesters vandalised and set on fire  Mujibur Rahman's residence in Dhaka. Similar cases of vandalism also took place at several other places, targeting Awami League leaders.

In a Facebook post, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh says, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh lodged a strong protest with the Government of India over the false and fabricated comments and statements continuously being made in different platforms including pic.twitter.com/9N5DodrCb3

ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2025

Awami League, in a statement, alleged that the interim government led by Yunus had done nothing to stop the demolition of the residence of Bangabandhu.

India on Thursday voiced anguish over destruction of the historic residence of  Mujibur Rahman and said the "act of vandalism' should be strongly condemned. "It is regrettable that the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, a symbol of the heroic resistance of the people of Bangladesh against the forces of occupation and oppression, was destroyed on February 5," external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "All those who value the freedom struggle that nurtured Bangla identity and pride are aware of the importance of this residence for the national consciousness of Bangladesh," he said.

Jaiswal was responding to media queries on the incident. "This act of vandalism should be strongly condemned," he said.

Hasina has been living in India ever since she had fled from the capital city of Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, in the wake of widespread protest against the crackdown on the agitation by the students and youths against reservation in government jobs.