New Delhi, Oct 14: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s decision to skip the BRICS summit in India was “immature” and damaged Bangladesh’s national interest, former premier Sheikh Hasina has said, warning that foreign policy driven by personal reactions or short-term political calculations is inherently counterproductive.
In an exclusive interview with PTI, Hasina said Bangladesh’s participation at the summit of the influential grouping could have opened up new opportunities for the country’s economic and social development, but that chance was lost.
Undeterred by the threat of a death sentence, the former prime minister insisted on returning to Bangladesh to continue her struggle for democracy, voting rights, and the rule of law, saying “fear cannot decide my duty.”
Hasina said if her presence in New Delhi was the reason behind Rahman’s refusal to attend the summit, it was very unfortunate, as relations between two countries cannot be determined by personal considerations or political sensitivities involving one individual.
Questioning Rahman’s decision, Hasina said that a responsible government should “open doors for the country, not close them.”
New Delhi had extended an invitation to Bangladesh Prime Minister Rahman for the BRICS summit in his role as the current chair of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation).
However, Rahman opted out of the summit, which took place in New Delhi 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.
As prime minister, Hasina had attended the BRICS Summit hosted by India in October 2016.
The former prime minister said foreign policy cannot be conducted through personal reaction or short-term political calculation.
“India is our closest neighbour and an important historic partner, but BRICS engagement is also about Bangladesh’s own place in the international community,” she noted.
The 78-old Hasina, living in Delhi since she left Bangladesh following the collapse of her government in August, 2024 in the face of a massive anti-government agitation, also recalled how then prime minister Ziaur Rahman visited New Delhi in 1979 when she was staying in India.
“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 said, while also highlighting how her government’s foreign policy approach helped Bangladesh’s economic growth.
“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.
The India-Bangladesh relations came under some fresh strain after Hasina held a virtual media interaction in New Delhi on August 5.
Following the event, Dhaka reiterated its demand for her extradition and even sought to link it with Rahman’s planned trip to India. New Delhi sought to distance itself from the event, saying it neither played a role in it nor endorsed Hasina’s comments.
The former prime minister also attacked the Rahman government for its overall foreign policy direction, and said it should be “independent, balanced and guided by national interest.”
“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 said Bangladesh is passing through a “grave national crisis as democratic space has been “closed”.
“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, without divulging specific details of her return to Bangladesh, said she is going back to restore democracy.
“The risks are very clear. There may be arrest, imprisonment and even danger to life. But fear cannot decide my duty,” she said.
“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.”
“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.
At the same time, she admitted that her return to Bangladesh could be risky as she was given a death sentence by a Bangladeshi court, but asserted that she was not afraid.
“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,” she 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.
Hasina said many Awami League leaders did not leave Bangladesh willingly, but were forced to do so to save their lives.
“Many others remain inside the country under constant pressure. But the principle is clear. The Awami League will not abandon Bangladesh, its people or its political movement. We will return to the people because our struggle is with them and for them,” she said.
“The Awami League is already alive and active. It is not a party that exists only in an office or on paper. It has roots in every division, district, region, village and corner of Bangladesh,” she added.
Hasina asserted that democracy must be restored in Bangladesh.
“The future course is clear. We must restore democracy. We must restore the rule of law. Political prisoners must be released. False cases must be withdrawn. Minorities must be protected. Extremism must be defeated. The economy must be revived,” she said.
“Bangladesh must return to the path of development. In a democracy, power must come only through the people’s vote. If the people choose the Awami League in a free, fair and inclusive election, we will serve them. If they choose otherwise, their verdict must be accepted. The people, not force or fear, must decide who governs Bangladesh,” she said. (PTI)
