Bangladeshi leader Hasina orchestrates anti-Bangladesh operations from her Kolkata base, alleges Rizvi.
In a public event at the Jatiya Press Club, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi accused deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of conducting "anti-Bangladesh activities" from a Kolkata office.
Rizvi claimed that Hasina, who has been in exile since her ouster as Prime Minister, is using this office as a base for conspiracies aimed at destabilizing Bangladesh. He asserted that the Indian government supports her presence in the country while Bengali-speaking Muslims there suffer hardships.
The Kolkata office, a subject of controversy due to its alleged involvement in internal Bangladesh incidents, has been the focus of Rizvi's accusations. He accused Hasina of deliberately undermining religious harmony in Bangladesh and attempting to break the unity among communities, portraying the country as divided.
Rizvi's claims are primarily based on the existence of a discreet Awami League party office in the outskirts of Kolkata. This office, according to a BBC report, is used by senior and mid-level Awami League leaders who have fled Bangladesh following political changes. The office serves as a venue for party meetings, with activities including WhatsApp, Telegram groups, and live programmes that Hasina sometimes joins remotely. Indian intelligence agencies are reportedly aware of this office, indicating some level of consent or tolerance by Indian authorities.
However, representatives linked to the Awami League have denied that the party is being run from India. They assert that most party leaders remain in Bangladesh. The nature of the office's operations being subversive remains largely based on political accusations rather than verified illegal acts.
The background of these accusations dates back to Hasina's removal from power amid public upheaval. Many Awami League leaders relocated to India following her ouster, including approximately 200 party members living in Kolkata as of mid-2025. Meetings between Hasina and party leaders have been documented in Delhi as recently as July 31, 2025, but explicit evidence regarding the nature of the office's operations being subversive remains elusive.
Rizvi also emphasized the religious harmony within Bangladesh's folk culture, stating that Hindus and Muslims are part of a larger culture. He noted that numerous Hindu temples and idols were destroyed during Hasina's tenure, and accused her of being connected to those incidents.
These accusations have sparked a political debate in Bangladesh, with the Awami League denying the allegations and emphasizing ongoing political coordination rather than destabilization efforts. The controversy surrounding the Kolkata office continues to be a topic of discussion, with Rizvi calling for Hasina to be "pushed back" to Bangladesh and emphasizing alleged contradictions in her statements made from India.
[1] BBC News, "Bangladesh: Awami League office set up in Kolkata," (2025), [online] available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-58099842
[3] The Daily Star, "BNP accuses Sheikh Hasina of running anti-Bangladesh activities from Kolkata," (2025), [online] available at: https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/news/bnp-accuses-sheikh-hasina-running-anti-bangladesh-activities-from-kolkata-1990143
[4] The Financial Express, "BNP alleges Sheikh Hasina of conducting anti-Bangladesh activities from Kolkata office," (2025), [online] available at: https://financialexpress.com.bd/2025/08/01/134428/bnp-alleges-sheikh-hasina-of-conducting-anti-bangladesh-activities-from-kolkata-office/
[5] The Dhaka Tribune, "Sheikh Hasina meets Awami League leaders in Delhi," (2025), [online] available at: https://www.dhakatribune.com/politics/national/2025/07/31/sheikh-hasina-meets-awami-league-leaders-in-delhi
- The controversy over the alleged Awami League office in Kolkata, used by party leaders who have fled Bangladesh, has contributed to ongoing discussions about general news, war-and-conflicts, politics, and crime-and-justice in the region.
- Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, a political figure, has accused deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of utilizing her Kolkata office to instigate conspiracies aimed at destabilizing Bangladesh, which have subsequently been debated within the context of internal politics and regional conflicts.
