‘Motherland Bleeding’: Sheikh Hasina Calls for Removal of Yunus-Led Interim Govt in Bangladesh

Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday delivered a defiant audio message from New Delhi, mounting a sharp attack on the interim government led by Nobel laureate.

Muhammad Yunus and urging her supporters to mobilise against what she described as an illegitimate administration. Speaking via an audio link during a media briefing at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia, attended by members of her former cabinet, Hasina described herself as representing “democracy in exile” and accused the Yunus-led interim government of pushing Bangladesh into instability.

Hasina, who has been residing in India since her government fell in August 2024, did not appear on video, citing security concerns. Her remarks were framed as both a rallying call to supporters and a challenge to the authority of the current leadership in Dhaka.

She described the interim administration as a “murderous, fascist clique” driven by power and betrayal, alleging that Bangladesh has descended into lawlessness since her removal. Urging citizens not to “give up now”, Hasina called for public mobilisation to reclaim democracy and remove what she termed a “foreign-serving regime”.

The former prime minister also directly targeted Yunus, accusing him of ignoring public sentiment and arguing that free and fair elections would be impossible as long as what she called an “illegal government” remained in power.

The briefing marked the first coordinated public appearance in India by senior figures of Hasina’s ousted Awami League government. Those present included former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud and former education minister Mohibul Chowdhury Nowfel.

Former ministers alleged a breakdown of law and order in Bangladesh and raised concerns over the safety of religious minorities. Hasina claimed Hindus, Buddhists and Christians were among the most vulnerable groups and accused the interim authorities of failing to protect them.

The remarks come ahead of Bangladesh’s interim government’s tentative plan to hold national elections on February 12. With the Awami League currently barred from contesting and much of its leadership either in exile or facing legal proceedings in Dhaka, Hasina’s supporters have dismissed the proposed polls as lacking legitimacy.

India has sought to strike a careful diplomatic balance, granting Hasina refuge while stating that her comments were made in a personal capacity. Nevertheless, the high-profile outreach from New Delhi is expected to further strain ties between India and the Yunus-led interim administration.