Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has delivered a fierce criticism of the country’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of persecuting minorities.
In a virtual address at an event in New York, Sheikh Hasina accused Muhammad Yunus of committing “genocide” and neglecting the protection of minorities, including Hindus. She also claimed there were plots to assassinate her and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, in a manner similar to the killing of their father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in 1975.
This was Sheikh Hasina’s first public address since seeking refuge in India following her resignation in August amid widespread anti-government protests, although she had previously commented on the broader situation in Bangladesh.
She said, “The armed protesters were heading towards Ganabhaban. If the security guards had opened fire, many lives could have been lost. It was a matter of 25-30 minutes, and I had no choice but to leave. I told the guards not to fire, no matter what happened,” referring to the storming of her official residence in Dhaka on August 5.
“Today, I am being accused of genocide. In reality, it is Yunus who has been orchestrating genocide in a carefully planned manner. The masterminds—Yunus and the student coordinators—are behind this atrocity,” she said during the event on December 1. Sheikh Hasina stated that the current government in Dhaka has failed to protect the minorities.
“Hindus, Buddhists, Christians—none have been spared. Eleven churches have been destroyed, and Mandirs and Buddhist shrines have been vandalised. When the Hindus protested, the Iskcon leader was arrested,” she said, indirectly referring to the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.
“What is the reason behind this persecution of minorities? Why are they being relentlessly attacked and oppressed?” she asked. “People no longer have the right to justice… I didn’t even have the time to resign,” she said, speaking in Bengali. Sheikh Hasina stated that she left Bangladesh in August with the intention of stopping the violence, but unfortunately, that goal was not achieved.
Relations between India and Bangladesh soured after the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus assumed power. India has raised concerns over the escalating attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina has been staying in India since leaving Bangladesh after widespread anti-government protests in July and August. In her speech at an event marking Bangladesh’s ‘Vijay Diwas,’ the Awami League leader also alleged that there was a conspiracy to assassinate her.
“When people were dying indiscriminately, I decided I had to leave,” she said. In recent months, there has been a surge in attacks on minorities, including the Hindu community, in Bangladesh.
Last week, India stated that the interim government in Bangladesh must fulfill its responsibility to protect all minorities, expressing deep concern over the “surge” in extremist rhetoric and the rising incidents of violence against Hindus.
New Delhi also expressed hope that the case involving Das, who was arrested on charges of sedition, would be handled in a just, fair, and transparent manner.
“Our position is very clear—the interim government must uphold its responsibility to protect all minorities,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during his weekly media briefing on December 6. “We are concerned about the rise in extremist rhetoric and the growing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed as mere media exaggeration. We once again urge Bangladesh to take all necessary steps to ensure the protection of minorities,” he added.
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