New Delhi’s desire for friendly relations is at odds with allowing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to make anti-Bangladesh statements or engage in political activities from Indian soil, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Saturday.

“On the one hand, India wants friendly relations with Bangladesh while on the other, it allows a convict and fugitive accused, Sheikh Hasina, to make anti-Bangladesh statements or engage in political activities from Indian soil. These two positions are completely contradictory,” he said at a discussion as the chief guest at the Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building auditorium of Dhaka University.

The minister expressed hope that the Indian government would understand the matter and stop playing the “Hasina card.”

The discussion titled “The Role of University Teachers in the Fall of the Fascist Government” was organised jointly by Dhaka University’s White Panel and the University Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh (UTAB) to mark the second anniversary of the July Mass Uprising of 2024.

Calling for the preservation of the spirit of the July uprising and “iron-clad national unity,” the home minister said Bangladesh must complete democratic reforms through democratic practices and tolerance while preventing any resurgence of “fascism”.

He said the victory achieved through 17 years of democratic struggle and the sacrifices of hundreds of thousands of people could not be used as a tool by any particular group to monopolise the spirit of the movement.

Salahuddin said the interim government formed on Aug 8, 2024, under Article 106 of the Constitution was the result of the aspirations of the country’s pro-democracy people.

He said Sheikh Hasina’s fall came through the mass uprising against 17 years of repression, enforced disappearances, killings and deprivation of voting rights.

“The politics of the Awami League and Sheikh Hasina has died in Dhaka and been buried in Delhi, ” he said adding people could no longer be misled through “politics of selling the spirit”.

Salahuddin also outlined proposals for future democratic reforms and constitutional amendments, saying provisions would be introduced to limit a prime minister to a maximum of two terms so that no elected government could become authoritarian in the future.

He said checks and balances would also be ensured between the upper and lower houses of parliament.

Constitutions in democratic countries around the world have been amended over time in response to changing social needs and demands, he said, adding that Bangladesh has also undertaken an initiative to amend its Constitution through democratic means in response to public aspirations following the mass uprising.

Addressing students and young people, the minister urged them not to make “provocative statements” out of “political immaturity”.

Referring to what he described as attempts to lure students into confrontational situations at educational institutions, he called on students to remain patient and tolerant and to express their protests through democratic means.

Dr ABM Obaidul Islam addressed the event as special guests.

At the programme, family members of July uprising martyrs including Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdha, brother of martyr Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho; Shafiul Alam, father of martyr Wasim Akram; Md Abu Hossain, brother of martyr Abu Sayed; and Nazma Khatun Lipi, mother of martyr Ekramul Haque Sajid.

Special crests were handed over to the family members of those who sacrificed their lives during the July uprising.

Teachers and students from different universities, social and political figures and representatives of civil society attended the event.