In a dramatic first public address since her controversial ousting in August, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has accused interim government head Muhammad Yunus of genocide and failing to protect the nation’s minorities.
Speaking during a virtual event organised by her Awami League party to commemorate “Bijoy Dibos” or Victory Day, Hasina launched a scathing critique of Yunus, accusing him of masterminding the persecution of Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and other minorities.
The event, held in New York on Sunday, marked the anniversary of Bangladesh’s victory in the 1971 Liberation War.
“Today, I am being accused of genocide. In reality, Yunus has been involved in genocide in a meticulously designed manner. The masterminds — the student coordinators and Yunus — are behind this genocide,” Hasina declared in her address.
Hasina, who sought refuge in India after being forced to flee her residence amidst violent protests in Dhaka, described the August events that culminated in her departure.
Referring to the storming of Ganabhaban, her official residence, she stated, “If the security guards had opened fire, many lives would have been lost. I told them not to fire, no matter what happened.”
She accused Yunus, a Nobel laureate and founder of Grameen Bank, of being “power-hungry” and alleged his involvement in corruption and money laundering.
Hasina’s criticism extended to the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk, following protests in Chittagong.
“Hindus, Buddhists, Christians – no one has been spared. Eleven churches have been destroyed, temples and Buddhist shrines have been broken. When the Hindus protested, the ISKCON leader was arrested,” she said.
Hasina painted a grim picture of the condition of minorities in Bangladesh since her removal, accusing the interim government of fostering an environment of persecution.
She questioned the motivations behind such attacks, saying, “What is this persecution of minorities for? Why are they being ruthlessly persecuted and attacked?”
The aftermath of Das’s arrest has seen heightened tensions. A Chittagong court denied him bail, sparking clashes that resulted in the death of a Muslim lawyer and the arrests of dozens.
Hasina expressed solidarity with minority communities, lamenting the erosion of justice in the country.
Hasina’s allegations have also drawn international attention, with neighbouring India expressing concerns over the targeting of minorities, particularly Hindus, under Yunus’s interim administration.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have reportedly grown strained since Hasina’s ousting and Yunus’s assumption of power.
Follow us
