In a searing indictment from her exile in India, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused Muhammad Yunus’ interim regime of patronising extremism and enabling the resurgence of Pakistan-linked terror networks, plunging the nation into a perilous era of radicalisation.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with India Today Globalโpart of a series she has granted since October 29โHasina warned that these forces threaten Bangladesh’s secular foundations and regional stability, urging India to champion democratic restoration as a bulwark against the chaos.
The four-time Awami League leader, who fled Bangladesh amid violent unrest in August, described Yunus’ unelected government as a “dangerous slide” toward authoritarianism, with extremists pulling strings from the shadows. Her remarks, delivered from an undisclosed location in New Delhi, underscore the deepening crisis in the neighbouring country, where political bans, minority attacks, and media crackdowns have eroded decades of progress.
As Bangladesh teeters under Yunus’ mobocracy, Hasina’s voice from exile serves as both a lament and a rallying cry. With extremism’s shadow lengthening and old terror spectres reemerging, her call for inclusive democracy resonates beyond borders, a reminder of the fragile peace in South Asia’s volatile heartland.
Hasina reserved her fiercest criticism for Yunus, portraying him as a power-hungry figure whose Western facade masks complicity with radical elements. “Yunus and his entourage are more interested in clinging to power than in serving the people of Bangladesh,” she said. “Any assessment of his tenure must begin with the fact that he has dismantled our democratic system and allowed extremists to rule our country through the back door.”
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She painted Yunus as a chameleon, once a darling of liberal elites abroad but now a suppressor of dissent at home. “Yunus lived in California for years. He has been a valued dinner party guest for Western political elites who mistakenly believed he shared their liberal values,” Hasina charged. “But the proof of his rule is in his willingness to crush political rivals, subvert our constitution, and silence any dissenting voice. His regime is underpinned by extremist factions and those who seek to dismantle Bangladesh’s secular democratic foundations.”
At the heart of Hasina’s alarm is the alarming revival of terror networks with ties to Pakistan, a development she said her government had long suppressed through robust security measures and neighbourly cooperation. “The resurgence of extremist elements with links to known terror organisations is indeed worrying and represents a direct threat both to Bangladesh and to regional stability,” she stated. “My government worked tirelessly to counter these forces, maintaining strong security cooperation with our neighbours and upholding Bangladesh’s tradition of moderation and secularism.”
Under Yunus, however, Hasina alleged that the floodgates have opened. “The current administration’s alignment with radical factions has created an environment where these dangerous elements can flourish,” she warned, linking the trend to broader societal fractures. She called on India, Bangladesh’s “closest friend,” to lead the charge for renewal.
“Regional cooperation on security matters is essential, and I believe India, as our closest friend, should continue to advocate strongly for the restoration of democratic norms in Bangladesh,” Hasina urged. “Supporting the return of free, fair and inclusive elections, with the participation of all major parties, is the best way to restore sensible management to Bangladesh and reinvigorate the longstanding partnership between our two nations.”
Hasina’s dire assessment extends to the societal toll, where radicalization has fueled division and fear. “I am deeply concerned by the direction Bangladesh is taking,” she confessed. “What we’re witnessing todayโarbitrary detentions, political bans, media censorship, and attacks on minoritiesโrepresents a dangerous slide away from the secular, democratic principles upon which our nation was founded.”
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The exiled leader evoked the ghosts of Bangladesh’s founding ethos, lamenting a betrayal of the 1971 independence struggle. “Bangladesh today is more divided and uncertain than it has been in decades,” she said.
“The extremist factions that have aligned themselves with the current administration are systematically undermining our constitution and the rule of law. Religious minorities live in fear, journalists are being targeted for reporting on the realities of daily life, and democratic institutions are being dismantled. This is not the Bangladesh we envisioned when we fought for our independence. I fear we risk undoing decades of progress, but I have faith in the resilience of the Bangladeshi people.”
The ban on her Awami League partyโimposed by Yunus’s administrationโexemplifies this undemocratic purge, Hasina argued, disenfranchising millions and paving the way for extremist dominance. “An election that excludes the Awami League cannot be considered legitimate,” she declared.
“These elections have been designed under an unconstitutional charter concocted by an unelected government. This same unelected government has also stipulated that the Awami Leagueโa party that has been elected nine times, including the last time Bangladeshis were allowed to use the ballot boxโcannot contest the election. In the process, millions of voters have been disenfranchised.”
She dismissed the process as a farce that perpetuates instability. “Whether in government or opposition, the Awami League is a political force that cannot be sidelined in this way,” Hasina insisted. “For our countryโs sake, this ban must be rescinded. Otherwise, Bangladesh will have missed its chance to have an administration genuinely governing with the consent of the people. Bangladeshis want stability, and for this destructive cycle of bans and boycotts to end.”
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Hasina’s vision for redemption hinges on democratic revival, which she framed not as a bid for personal glory but as essential to countering the extremist tide. “My commitment to Bangladesh remains unwavering. I have dedicated my life to improving our nation, and that dedication has not diminished,” she affirmed.
“For me to return home, Bangladesh must first restore democracy through free, fair and participatory elections with the Awami League reinstated. I am not seeking personal power. This has never been about me or my family. It is about ensuring that the people of Bangladesh can exercise their fundamental right to choose their representatives, about ensuring economic progress and a pluralistic political culture, and about protecting the rights of ordinary citizens, whatever their political or religious affiliation.”
In a reflective nod to her 15-year tenure, Hasina acknowledged missteps amid the turmoil that ousted her while defending her legacy against what she called Yunus’s “scapegoating.” “Every leader, with the benefit of hindsight, can identify decisions they might have approached differently,” she admitted. “Looking back, I recognise that certain grievances, particularly around government job quotas, could have been addressed through more extensive dialogue and engagement. We had mechanisms in place for this, as we’d shown in the past, but perhaps we could have acted more swiftly.”
She lamented the derailment of a promised inquiry into protest deaths. “If the situation had not deteriorated, we would also have been able to complete the independent inquiry we launched immediately after the first casualties. This was extinguished by Yunus when he seized power,” Hasina said. “But I regret that we were not able to give the bereaved families of those who tragically lost their lives the answers they deserve. Sadly, the so-called investigations that have been undertaken by the interim government have just been scapegoating exercises aimed at discrediting the Awami League for narrow political purposes.”
Yet, she stood unapologetic on her achievements, crediting her era with transformative growth. “However, I stand firmly behind what we achieved as a nation during our 15 years of governance,” Hasina proclaimed.
She said: “Our internationally recognised economic growth, the major infrastructure projects we undertook, the trade relationships we built, the day-to-day improvements that lifted millions out of poverty and created a more inclusive societyโthese are achievements to be proud of. Bangladeshโs people are immensely resourceful, and we empowered them to achieve 450% GDP growth over 15 years. Figures like Yunus may criticise our legacy, but they will never achieve anything remotely comparable for our country.”
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