India's Ministry of External Affairs has said it has no involvement in a New Delhi event where former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to deliver a virtual address. According to the government, the programme is being organised by a private entity rather than any official agency.
The clarification came as attention focused on the planned appearance by Sheikh Hasina, a major political figure in Bangladesh. By publicly distancing itself from the event, the MEA made clear that the gathering should not be seen as a government-backed platform.
The statement narrows the issue to the event's organisers and its non-official nature. In effect, India has indicated that the programme is a private initiative and not part of any formal diplomatic or state activity in New Delhi.
The development is likely to draw interest in both India and Bangladesh because of Sheikh Hasina's political profile. For now, the Indian government's position is that the event is private and that there is no official involvement from its side.
