Bangladesh former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has criticised Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's decision to skip the BRICS summit in India, calling it "immature" and arguing that it undermined Bangladesh's national interest and cost the country an opportunity for economic and social development.
In an exclusive interview with PTI, Hasina said foreign policy driven by personal reactions or short-term political calculations was counterproductive. She suggested that her presence in New Delhi may have influenced Rahman's decision not to attend the summit, which was held on September 12 and 13.
"It was deeply unfortunate that Bangladesh chose not to participate. In my view, it was an immature decision and one that did not serve Bangladesh's national interest," Hasina said.
"BRICS is not simply a diplomatic gathering. It brings together major emerging economies and creates opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, technology and development. By participating, Bangladesh could have gained valuable experience and opened new opportunities for its own economic and social development. That opportunity was lost," she said.
New Delhi had invited Rahman to attend the summit in his capacity as the current chair of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). However, he opted out of the meeting.
Hasina said her presence in India should not have affected bilateral engagement, citing instances when former Bangladesh president Ziaur Rahman travelled abroad despite her presence in the same cities.
"After the assassination of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with members of my family on August 15, 1975, and the killing of the four national leaders inside Dhaka Central Jail on November 3, Ziaur Rahman came to power through an unconstitutional process," Hasina said in response to written questions.
"Yet when he visited Delhi in 1979, I was living in Delhi. When he travelled to London in 1980, I was also in London. My presence in either city did not prevent him from travelling there," she said.
"So why should my presence in Delhi prevent Ziaur Rahman's son, Tarique Rahman, from coming to India today? What is the real reason behind such a decision," she asked.
"Relations between two countries cannot be determined by personal considerations or political sensitivities involving one individual," she stressed.
The 78-year-old leader, who has been living in Delhi since the collapse of her government in August 2024 amid a massive anti-government agitation, said her administration had maintained ties with India while expanding cooperation with other countries.
"During my tenure, we maintained strong relations with India while also expanding cooperation with China, Russia, Japan, the United States, Europe and many other partners," she said.
"Friendship with one country never required hostility towards another.\
Bangladesh needs a mature, balanced and confident foreign policy. A responsible government should open doors for the country, not close them," she said.
India-Bangladesh relations came under fresh strain after Hasina held a virtual media interaction in New Delhi on August 5. Dhaka subsequently reiterated its demand for her extradition and sought to link it with Rahman's planned visit to India. New Delhi distanced itself from the event, saying it had neither played a role in it nor endorsed Hasina's comments.
Hasina also criticised the Rahman government's broader foreign policy approach, arguing that it should be guided by national interest rather than tensions between partner countries.
"The principle given by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, remains the best guide: friendship to all, malice to none. India is Bangladesh's closest neighbour and historic friend from the Liberation War," she said.
"China is also an important development partner. Japan, the United States, Europe, ASEAN and the Muslim world are all important to Bangladesh. The problem is not engagement with China or any other country. The problem begins when one relationship is used against another," she said.
"It begins when anti-India rhetoric is encouraged for domestic politics. It begins when major decisions are taken without transparency," she added.
The Awami League leader alleged that Bangladesh was facing a "grave national crisis" due to restrictions on democratic space, curtailed media freedom, weakened law and order and growing insecurity among minorities. She also accused the government of using the judiciary for political revenge and said extremist forces had regained space.
"The judiciary has been used for political revenge. Media freedom has been restricted. Law and order have weakened. Minorities feel unsafe. Extremist forces have regained space. The economy has suffered," she said.
"This is no longer only an Awami League issue. It is a national crisis. One of the country's largest political forces has been banned. Its leaders are in jail or forced into hiding," she said.
"Millions of its supporters have been denied normal political rights. A country cannot return to stability by excluding such a large section of its own people. The suffering is being felt across the country, but Awami League leaders, workers and supporters have faced an unprecedented burden of political persecution," she said.
Hasina said her return to Bangladesh would be part of her effort to restore democracy, voting rights and the rule of law, but did not disclose specific details of the proposed return.
"Thousands have been jailed, many more have been forced into hiding, and families have lost homes, jobs, businesses and livelihoods simply because of their political identity," she said.
"My return is part of the struggle to restore democracy, voting rights and the rule of law. I want to stand beside the people of Bangladesh, fight for their rights, and help restore democracy, security and development in my country," she said.
"The people of Bangladesh must be allowed to decide their own future through a free, fair and inclusive election. That is why my return will be significant. It will be a step towards returning Bangladesh to its people," she added.
Acknowledging the risks of returning after a Bangladeshi court sentenced her to death, Hasina said she was not afraid, citing previous assassination attempts and political persecution.
"This is not the first time death has come close. In 1975, my father, mother, brothers and almost my entire family were murdered. In 1981, despite military rule and intimidation, I returned to Bangladesh. There have been repeated assassination attempts, including the August 21, 2004 grenade attack, as well as imprisonment, conspiracy and political persecution," the Awami League leader said.
"The greater concern today is not personal safety. It is the destruction of justice in Bangladesh. A death sentence imposed through a politically motivated process, without a genuine opportunity to defend oneself, cannot be called justice," she said.