Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Bangladesh’s exiled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday launched a sharp attack on the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, calling for the overthrow of “foreign-serving puppet regime” to restore democracy and constitutional rule in the country.In an audio message played at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in New Delhi, Hasina accused the Yunus-led administration of pushing Bangladesh into an era of terror, lawlessness and democratic exile. She urged the people of Bangladesh to unite against what she termed a “foreign-serving puppet regime” and appealed for the revival of democratic institutions.“In this grave hour, the entire nation must rise united and galvanized by the spirit of our great Liberation War. To overthrow the foreign-serving puppet regime of this national enemy at any cost, the brave sons and daughters of Bangladesh must defend and restore the Constitution written in the blood of martyrs, reclaim our independence, safeguard our sovereignty, and revive our democracy,” Hasina said. Setting the tone of her address, Hasina painted a grim picture of present-day Bangladesh, linking the political turmoil to her removal from office following mass protests nearly a year and a half ago.“Bangladesh stands today at the edge of an abyss, a nation battered and bleeding, navigating one of the most perilous chapters in its history,” she said, invoking the legacy of the Liberation War and her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “The entire country has become a vast prison, an execution ground, a valley of death.”Hasina alleged that since August 5, 2024, when she was forced out, democracy had effectively been driven into exile. Directly targeting the interim chief adviser, she said, “Everywhere one hears only the cries of people struggling to survive amid destruction. A desperate plea for life. Heart-rending screams for relief. The murderous fascist Yunus, a usurer, a money launderer, a plunderer, and a corrupt, power-hungry traitor, has bled our nation dry with his all-consuming paradigms, staining the soul of our motherland.” “On August 5, 2024, in a meticulously engineered conspiracy, the national enemy, the murderous fascist Yunus, and his anti-state militant accomplices forcibly ousted me, though I am the people’s representative directly elected. From that day forward, the nation has been plunged into an age of terror, merciless, relentless, and suffocating. Democracy is now in exile,” ousted PM added.
Hasina lists 5 demands
Hasina said her Awami League was putting forward a five-point demand aimed at national reconciliation and democratic revival. These include the removal of “illegal Yunus administration,” an end to violence on the streets, guarantees for the safety of religious minorities, women and vulnerable groups, a halt to politically motivated legal investigation against journalists and opposition leaders and an impartial United Nations probe into events over the past year.“The Awami League calls for the following actions to help unify Bangladesh and banish the divisive actions of the past twelve months. We urge Muhammad Yunus to stop ignoring his own people and do what needs to be done in order to heal our country by following five crucial steps we believe will lead to a better and stronger Bangladesh,” she said.
- First, restore democracy by removing the illegal Yunus administration.
- Second, put an end to the daily acts of violence we are seeing on our streets.
- Third, deliver an ironclad guarantee ensuring the safety of religious minority groups, women and girls, and the most vulnerable in our society.
- Fourth, end politically motivated acts of lawfare used to intimidate, silence, and jail journalists and members of the Bangladesh Awami League and opposition political parties.
- Fifth, invite the United Nations to conduct a new and truly impartial investigation into the events of the past year.
Hasina was removed from power in August 2024 amid widespread protests, after which an interim government headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge. Bangladesh is also scheduled to conduct polls in February this year. While the Yunus administration has pledged to hold free and fair elections, its decision to ban the Awami League has drawn criticism and raised concerns about political inclusivity. The Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have historically dominated the country’s politics.
