In her first public address since fleeing Bangladesh four months ago, ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched a blistering attack on interim leader Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of orchestrating “genocide” and failing to protect the country’s minority communities. Speaking virtually at an event in New York on Bangladesh’s “Bijoy Dibos” (Victory Day), Hasina outlined the grim situation in the country under the current regime, particularly the persecution of Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians.
Hasina, addressing her supporters in the Awami League, did not hold back in accusing Yunus, a former Nobel laureate, of being “power-hungry” and involved in orchestrating violence against vulnerable communities. She claimed Yunus and his allies were responsible for orchestrating the “genocide” in the country and for the attacks on places of worship.
In her nearly hour-long speech, Hasina described how Hindu temples were desecrated and 11 churches were destroyed. She cited the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das as evidence of the state’s systemic oppression of dissenting voices. “Today, I am being accused of genocide, but it is Yunus and his accomplices who have meticulously orchestrated this violence,” she said in Bengali.
The ousted leader also spoke about her departure from Bangladesh in August, stating that the situation had become untenable. Hasina recalled how armed protesters were marching toward Ganabhaban, her official residence, and how she instructed security forces not to fire upon them, despite the risks involved. “To stop the bloodshed, I left. But the violence has only worsened since then,” Hasina explained.
Hasina’s comments also shed light on the strained relationship between Bangladesh and its neighboring country, India. India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over the rise in extremist rhetoric and the continued violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged the interim government to fulfill its obligations to protect minorities and ensure justice for victims such as Chinmoy Krishna Das.
As Hasina remains in India, her address adds to the growing tension in Bangladesh, where critics argue that the interim government, led by Yunus, is failing to safeguard the rights of minorities and bring peace to the country. The allegations of genocide and persecution of minorities by Hasina mark a significant escalation in her conflict with Yunus, and her remarks are likely to influence regional stability as the crisis continues to unfold.