Sheikh Hasina, a former Bangladeshi premier, has strongly attacked interim chief Muhammad Yunus for allegedly aligning with the United States and betraying national interests.
She made the criticism in an audio message posted on the Awami League's official Facebook page. She also criticized recent measures against her political party, calling them unconstitutional.
Hasina, who resigned and left the country in the wake of nationwide student demonstrations last spring, said Yunus had seized power with the assistance of radical elements. "He has usurped power with the assistance of terrorists, even those who are prohibited in different international forums, against whom my government defended the people of Bangladesh," she said.
Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, was appointed head of the interim government on 7 August 2024. His appointment came after a series of anti-government protests compelled Hasina to resign. In reports indicating Yunus contemplating resignation amid increasing pressure from the military to conduct general elections in December, Hasina's statement is the sharpest criticism she has leveled so far.
Hasina in her speech accused Yunus of empowering militant forces and deconstructing the security machinery her government had established. "We took stern actions after just one terrorist attack. Lots were arrested. Now prisons are vacant. They freed all. Now Bangladesh is the militants' kingdom," she stated.
She also called upon her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founder leader of Bangladesh, who had spurned American pressure on the control of St. Martin's Island—a position which, in her words, had ended up costing his life. "And that was my fate as I never thought of selling the nation to remain in power," Hasina said.
Looking back at the liberation war of the country, Hasina stressed that no one would think about giving away even an inch of Bangladesh's land. "It cannot be the intention of anyone to give up even an inch of that nation's land to anyone," she stated. She found it hard to believe that a world-renowned personality like Yunus would supposedly do something so against national interest.
Hasina continued to condemn Yunus as a "militant leader" and questioned the validity of his rule. "The constitution of our great Bengali nation, we obtained it by a long battle and the liberation war. Who granted this militant leader, who has taken power illegally, the right to lay hands on the constitution?" she asked.
Hasina testified that the Chief Advisor's position, which is occupied by Yunus, is not constitutionally valid and cannot have public mandate, and is therefore not legally authorized to make any changes or bans.
She ended by once again denouncing the ban on the Awami League as illegal and against the democratic structure of Bangladesh.
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