Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted during the July uprising last year and later fled to India, on Friday sharply criticised Chief Adviser of the interim government Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of plunging the country into violence, repression and political instability.

In a statement delivered through an audio message, Hasina alleged that Yunus was responsible for bloodshed across the country and warned him to halt what she described as politically motivated actions aimed at intimidating journalists and members of the Bangladesh Awami League as well as opposition political parties.

Hasina, president of the Awami League, used strong language to describe Yunus, accusing him of authoritarianism, corruption and betrayal. She claimed his leadership had left people struggling to survive amid widespread destruction and fear.

“Everywhere one hears only the cries of people struggling to survive amid destruction—a desperate plea for life,” she said, alleging that the country had been pushed into “an age of terror, merciless, relentless and suffocating.”

Referring to her removal from office, Hasina alleged that she was forcibly ousted on August 5, 2024, through what she described as a “meticulously engineered conspiracy,” despite being a leader directly elected by the people. She claimed that democracy in Bangladesh is now “in exile.”

The former prime minister made the remarks in an audio message played during an interactive session organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia.
Hasina also called for a fresh and impartial investigation by the United Nations into the events of the past year, reiterating her demand for international scrutiny.

Urging unity among citizens, she appealed to the people of Bangladesh to restore the Constitution, reclaim national independence and oppose what she termed a “foreign-serving puppet regime.” She also called on democratic, progressive and non-communal forces aligned with the spirit of the Liberation War to unite and work toward building a humane and welfare-oriented democratic state.

In her address, Hasina outlined five steps she said were necessary to stabilise the country: restoring democracy by removing the current administration, ending street violence, ensuring the safety of religious minorities, women and vulnerable groups, stopping politically motivated legal actions against journalists and political activists, and inviting the United Nations to conduct an impartial investigation into recent developments.

She also urged Yunus to “stop ignoring his own people” and address what she described as growing insecurity and repression across the country.

Source: The Statesman