Amid renewed tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi following India’s decision to allow Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity, to hold a press conference in Delhi on August 5, a seminar involving individuals linked to Bangladesh’s banned Awami League is scheduled to take place in the Indian capital.The seminar, titled “Euro-Asia Relations: Partnership for Peace, Prosperity and Sustainable Development,” is scheduled for August 29 at the Foreign Correspondents Club (South Asia) in Delhi. The event is being organised by the Hand in Hand Foundation and its partner organisations.Diplomatic sources in Delhi said former Awami League foreign minister Hasan Mahmud and several Awami League leaders living in Europe are behind the initiative.The sources said there is no direct involvement of the Indian government in the event, although a section of Indian intelligence is believed to be indirectly supporting the initiative. However, diplomatic sources said New Delhi has recently taken fresh initiatives to normalise ties with Dhaka, raising uncertainty over whether the August 29 seminar will ultimately take place.Although the seminar’s stated agenda focuses on peace, cooperation, human rights and economic development between Europe and Asia, discussions are expected to centre largely on Bangladesh’s current political situation and the future of the Awami League.According to the report, the party is seeking to raise internationally the issues surrounding restrictions imposed on it and verdicts against Sheikh Hasina and other Awami League leaders.Several fugitive Bangladeshi politicians, diplomats and people identifying themselves as human rights activists, along with former Indian diplomats, are expected to attend the seminar.Among the scheduled participants are Hasan Mahmud, Member of the European Parliament Dr Ondrej Dostál, writer and Liberation War veteran Dr Nurun Nabi, former ambassador Peter Fahrin Holz, former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Veena Sikri, Dr Jahanara Arzu, APC Global Forum Chairman S Venkata Narayanan, United Diplomatic Council President Dr Asif Iqbal and Hand in Hand Foundation Secretary AFM Golam Jilani.