Delhi denies permission for seminar featuring speakers linked to Awami League

The Delhi Police denied permission for an international seminar organized by the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia (FCC) in New Delhi, citing "certain controversies" related to speakers linked to Bangladesh's Awami League. The seminar, titled "Europe and Asia: From Dialogue to a Partnership," was scheduled for Saturday from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm and was to be held jointly with the Belgium-based Hand in Hand Foundation.

The event was canceled after the Delhi Police refused to grant clearance, despite organizers requesting security arrangements. Although no official explanation was provided, sources suggested the decision may have been influenced by the presence of Awami League-affiliated speakers, whose activities are banned in Bangladesh. Tensions between India and Bangladesh have risen following a virtual appearance by Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina at the FCC in August, during which she commented on the situation in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh government formally protested the incident and demanded assurances that such "undesirable provocations" would not recur. Additionally, Dhaka intensified its request for Hasina’s extradition, and a planned visit to India by Bangladesh’s prime minister Tarique Rahman was postponed.

Diplomatic sources indicated that the seminar’s cancellation was likely an effort by India to avoid further controversy and demonstrate its commitment to improving relations with Bangladesh. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has repeatedly stated that it was not involved in the remarks made during Hasina’s virtual appearance and that such statements do not reflect the Indian government’s position.

Among the scheduled speakers were Selim Mahmud, the Awami League’s information and research secretary; Nurun Nabi, a freedom fighter and Bangladeshi-American scientist; former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Veena Sikri; Rohingya rights activist Ravi Alam; United Diplomatic Council President Asif Iqbal; and Hand in Hand Foundation General Secretary Golam Jilani. Czech politician Ondřej Dostál and German politician Peter Fahrenholz were also expected to attend.

The Delhi Police’s decision to withhold permission was conveyed to organizers on Saturday, with the application annotated to cite "certain controversies" as the reason. FCC President Wael Awwad expressed uncertainty about the denial, stating that the event was intended as an intellectual discussion focused on partnership and development.

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