In today’s top stories, Iran escalates tensions with the United States as its Army chief announces a $30,000 reward for capturing or killing U.S. military personnel. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s potential Prime Minister Tariq Rahman visit to India remains uncertain, with Dhaka stressing the need for a conducive environment and linking the issue to Sheikh Hasina’s extradition.

The Russia-Ukraine war sees fresh escalation as Ukraine claims a counterstrike against a Russian missile fuel production facility following Russian strikes on Kyiv. In India, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari promises strict action following the death of former state Assembly Deputy Speaker Ashish Banerjee, while political accusations continue.

Elsewhere, Home Minister Amit Shah targets the Congress over the Vande Mataram controversy at an Independence Day event, saying attempts to shorten the national song will not be forgiven. The government has also set LPG production targets for Indian refiners to strengthen domestic supplies, reduce import dependence and improve energy security.

Stay tuned for the latest India, world, geopolitical, political and breaking news updates from WION.

In today’s top stories, Iran escalates tensions with the United States as its Army chief announces a $30,000 reward for capturing or killing U.S. military personnel. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s potential Prime Minister Tariq Rahman visit to India remains uncertain, with Dhaka stressing the need for a conducive environment and linking the issue to Sheikh Hasina’s extradition.  The Russia-Ukraine war sees fresh escalation as Ukraine claims a counterstrike against a Russian missile fuel production facility following Russian strikes on Kyiv. In India, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari promises strict action following the death of former state Assembly Deputy Speaker Ashish Banerjee, while political accusations continue.  Elsewhere, Home Minister Amit Shah targets the Congress over the Vande Mataram controversy at an Independence Day event, saying attempts to shorten the national song will not be forgiven. The government has also set LPG production targets for Indian refiners to strengthen domestic supplies, reduce import dependence and improve energy security.  Stay tuned for the latest India, world, geopolitical, political and breaking news updates from WION.

A day after ousted Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina addressed the public for the first time since fleeing her country after 2024 uprising, the interim Bangladesh government has raised objection and expressed their surprise over the incident. Bangladesh said that it was “surprised" and “shocked" that Indian authorities allowed the event to take place. Dhaka has sought Hasina's extradition from India, with Indian government stating that Hasina's stay is a personal call taken by her and she<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/when-will-india-extradite-former-bangladesh-pm-sheikh-hasina-eam-jaishankar-reveals-1765086534823"> can stay here as long as she wants</a>. Sheikh Hasina has been living in India since August 2024, after she fled Bangladesh as her government fell amid massive student protest.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-would-love-to-go-home-if-ousted-bangladesh-pm-sheikh-hasina-confirms-she-is-in-delhi-1761786678611">'Would love to go home if...': Ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina confirms she is in Delhi</a><h2>What Bangaldesh government said?</h2>In a statement, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry said the speech had deeply angered both the government and the public and that the move to allow Hasina to speak in public could harm ties between the two countries.. “The government and the people of Bangladesh are surprised and shocked. Allowing the event to take place in the Indian capital and letting mass murderer Hasina openly deliver her hate speech… constitute a clear affront to the people and the Government of Bangladesh." According to the foreign ministry, permitting the speech created “a dangerous precedent" that could “seriously impair bilateral relations".A Dhaka court sentenced Hasina to death by hanging after declaring her guilty in absentia on charges including incitement, issuing orders to kill and failing to prevent atrocities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-muhammad-yunus-is-corrupt-power-hungry-traitor-hasina-calls-for-overthrow-of-foreign-serving-puppet-regime-in-bangladesh-1769188106673">‘Muhammad Yunus is corrupt, power-hungry traitor’: Hasina calls for overthrow of foreign-serving puppet regime in Bangladesh</a><h2>Sheikh Hasina's first public speech</h2>In a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-no-free-elections-until-shadow-of-yunus-clique-lifted-says-former-bangladesh-pm-sheikh-hasina-1769194762628">major public address</a>, just weeks before Bangladesh goes to polls, Hasina has said that the country cannot hold free and fair elections while the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus remains in power. Speaking via an audio message played to an audience at Delhi’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia on Friday, Hasina sharply criticised the Yunus-led government, describing it as an “illegal” regime that has plunged Bangladesh into ‘chaos and suppressed democracy’. “Bangladesh will never experience free and fair elections until the shadow of the Yunus clique is lifted from the people of Bangladesh,” she said. Hasina, who was ousted in August 2024 following protests that ended her 15-year rule, called for “restoring democracy by removing the illegal Yunus administration”. “The homeland won through the supreme Liberation War under the leadership of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is now ravaged by the monstrous onslaught of extremist communal forces and foreign perpetrators.” Hasina targeted Yunus personally, accusing him of corruption and betrayal, labelling him a “corrupt, power-hungry traitor, who has bled our nation dry with his all-consuming paradigms, staining the soul of our motherland”.

Bangladesh’s interim government objected after ousted PM Sheikh Hasina addressed a public event in Delhi, calling it shocking and harmful to bilateral ties. Hasina accused the Yunus-led interim regime of being illegal and said free elections are impossible under its rule.

A day after ousted Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina addressed the public for the first time since fleeing her country after 2024 uprising, the interim Bangladesh government has raised objection and expressed their surprise over the incident. Bangladesh said that it was “surprised" and “shocked" that Indian authorities allowed the event to take place. Dhaka has sought Hasina's extradition from India, with Indian government stating that Hasina's stay is a personal call taken by her and she can stay here as long as she wants. Sheikh Hasina has been living in India since August 2024, after she fled Bangladesh as her government fell amid massive student protest. Also Read: 'Would love to go home if...': Ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina confirms she is in Delhi What Bangaldesh government said? In a statement, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry said the speech had deeply angered both the government and the public and that the move to allow Hasina to speak in public could harm ties between the two countries.. “The government and the people of Bangladesh are surprised and shocked. Allowing the event to take place in the Indian capital and letting mass murderer Hasina openly deliver her hate speech… constitute a clear affront to the people and the Government of Bangladesh." According to the foreign ministry, permitting the speech created “a dangerous precedent" that could “seriously impair bilateral relations". A Dhaka court sentenced Hasina to death by hanging after declaring her guilty in absentia on charges including incitement, issuing orders to kill and failing to prevent atrocities. Also Read: ‘Muhammad Yunus is corrupt, power-hungry traitor’: Hasina calls for overthrow of foreign-serving puppet regime in Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina's first public speech In a major public address, just weeks before Bangladesh goes to polls, Hasina has said that the country cannot hold free and fair elections while the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus remains in power. Speaking via an audio message played to an audience at Delhi’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia on Friday, Hasina sharply criticised the Yunus-led government, describing it as an “illegal” regime that has plunged Bangladesh into ‘chaos and suppressed democracy’. “Bangladesh will never experience free and fair elections until the shadow of the Yunus clique is lifted from the people of Bangladesh,” she said. Hasina, who was ousted in August 2024 following protests that ended her 15-year rule, called for “restoring democracy by removing the illegal Yunus administration”. “The homeland won through the supreme Liberation War under the leadership of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is now ravaged by the monstrous onslaught of extremist communal forces and foreign perpetrators.” Hasina targeted Yunus personally, accusing him of corruption and betrayal, labelling him a “corrupt, power-hungry traitor, who has bled our nation dry with his all-consuming paradigms, staining the soul of our motherland”.

Bangladesh’s interim government objected after ousted PM Sheikh Hasina addressed a public event in Delhi, calling it shocking and harmful to bilateral ties. Hasina accused the Yunus-led interim regime of being illegal and said free elections are impossible under its rule.

'Could seriously impair relations': Bangladesh slams India for allowing Sheikh Hasina's 'hate speech'

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his condolences on the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Khaleda Zia passed away at the age of 80, after a prolonged illness, her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced on Tuesday (Dec 30). She was admitted in Dhaka's Evercare Hospital since November 23 and was on ventilator support since December 11. In his message, PM Modi highlighted her important contributions towards the development of Bangladesh, as well as India-Bangladesh relations. Sharing pictures of his meeting with Khaleda Zia in 2015, PM Modi said that her vision and legacy will continue to guide India-Bangladesh partnership.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. Our sincerest condolences to her family and all the people of Bangladesh. May the Almighty grant her family the fortitude to bear this tragic loss. As the… <a href="https://t.co/BLg6K52vak">pic.twitter.com/BLg6K52vak</a>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/2005855695787507912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What was her role in development of Bangladesh-India ties?</h2>Though Khaleda Zia is credited for expansion of India-Bangladesh ties, her successor Sheikh Hasina is seen to be the friendlier one with New Delhi. Khaleda Zia maintained an overall cautious, and balanced Indian ties with that with China and Pakistan. Khaleda Zia positioned her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as a “protector of Bangladesh’s interests”, often at the backdrop of anti-India rhetoric.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bangladesh-s-first-female-pm-khaleda-zia-dies-after-prolonged-illness-1767058663201">Bangladesh’s first female PM Khaleda Zia dies after prolonged illness</a>&nbsp;She opposed overland transit and connectivity links with India, both as PM and as Leader of the Opposition. As Prime Minister, she also refused India transit rights across Bangladeshi territory to the northeastern states, arguing it infringed on her country's security and sovereignty.&nbsp;She also argued Indian trucks' toll-free use of Bangladeshi roads was akin to 'slavery'. She opposed renewal of the 1972 Indo-Bangladesh Friendship Treaty. During Zia's tenure, India’s Farakka Barrage became the major reason of conflict between the two countries. As per reports, the barrage helps reduce silt, improves navigability around Kolkata Port and supplies fresh water to the city, but Zia maintained that it deprived Bangladesh of its rightful share of Ganges water. In 2007, she accused India of opening sluice gates to aggravate flooding in Bangladesh.&nbsp;Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/despite-killing-of-hindu-men-bangladesh-turns-focus-on-communal-violence-in-india-asks-new-delhi-to-conduct-impartial-probe-1766973194418">Despite killing of Hindu men, Bangladesh turns focus on communal violence in India, asks New Delhi to 'conduct impartial probe'</a>&nbsp;Khaleda Zia's foreign policy also became a reason for tensed India-Bangladesh relations. In 2002, Zia actively pursued defence cooperation with China. New Delhi, at that time, also accused the then BNP government of sheltering separatist groups operating in India’s northeastern states afterZia described insurgent outfits such as ULFA and NSCN as “freedom fighters.”&nbsp;Khaleda Zia's political fortune went downhill after Awami League won election in 2008. Zia opposed the Hasina government, calling her efforts “struggle for democracy.” She was placed under house arrest twice during movements she launched against the government. In 2018, she &nbsp;sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a special court in Dhaka in corruption cases. Her jail sentence was suspended on March 25, 2020, when the then Awami League government temporarily released her through an executive order amid the COVID-19 pandemic, on the condition that she remain in her Gulshan home and not leave the country. She was finally released after 2024 uprising led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.&nbsp;&nbsp;

PM Narendra Modi condoled the death of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia, who died at 80 after a prolonged illness. Modi recalled her contributions to Bangladesh and India ties. A complex leader, Zia often opposed India but later sought pragmatic engagement with Delhi.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his condolences on the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Khaleda Zia passed away at the age of 80, after a prolonged illness, her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announced on Tuesday (Dec 30). She was admitted in Dhaka's Evercare Hospital since November 23 and was on ventilator support since December 11. In his message, PM Modi highlighted her important contributions towards the development of Bangladesh, as well as India-Bangladesh relations. Sharing pictures of his meeting with Khaleda Zia in 2015, PM Modi said that her vision and legacy will continue to guide India-Bangladesh partnership.

PM Narendra Modi condoled the death of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia, who died at 80 after a prolonged illness. Modi recalled her contributions to Bangladesh and India ties. A complex leader, Zia often opposed India but later sought pragmatic engagement with Delhi.

PM Modi 'deeply saddened' on Khaleda Zia's demise: What was her role in development of Bangladesh-India ties

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Bangladesh slams India for allowing Sheikh Hasina's 'hate speech'

PM Modi 'deeply saddened' on Khaleda Zia's demise: What were her views on India