In a rare and wide-ranging exclusive interview with CNN-News18 from her exile in India, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina delivered a fierce condemnation of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, warning of a deepening constitutional crisis and urging inclusive elections.
Speaking on the eve of Victory Day, Sheikh Hasina rejected accusations against her, defended her economic legacy, and called for genuine rule of law while expressing concern over minority safety and political exclusion.
When asked how she views Bangladesh from exile and whether everything is going well, Hasina responded: “I follow events closely, and my greatest wish is for peace, stability, and the safety of all Bangladeshis. I am deeply concerned by reports of political exclusion, attacks on minorities, and the economic disruption that followed last year’s turmoil. Our country is under deep strain: democracy is threatened, law and order have nearly vanished, and ordinary people live in fear. We urgently need calm, accountable, and democratic leadership to be restored.”
Addressing the student protests that evolved into a nationwide movement leading to her resignation, and the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD)’s description of the events as a “genocide” under her watch, Hasina said: “The summer of 2024 was a tragic sequence of events. The student protests began with understandable grievances but were inflamed by irresponsible political actors and a heavy-handed interim response. These actors turned initially peaceful protests into uncontrollable street clashes that led to the loss of innocent lives. History will judge these events harshly if there is no honest accounting.”
Regarding her in absentia death sentence for crimes against humanity in the protester crackdown, the Awami League president elaborated: “I have repeatedly highlighted the political motivations of this tribunal, as have independent international human rights organisations and many eminent overseas lawyers. The ICT was never about justice, but rather political retribution. It was controlled by my political opponents, who saw it as an opportunity to discredit or even destroy the Awami League.”
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She criticised the trial process, saying: “The unprecedented speed of the trial and the interim government’s control of the judiciary made it impossible to mount a robust defence. I couldn’t choose my lawyer, and the prosecution relied solely on weak, fabricated evidence that I was not able to challenge. No intelligent or credible analysis was provided of the events of July and August 2024.
“The tribunal did not properly examine the chain of command, independent forensic evidence, or alternative accounts that would cast doubt on the favoured narrative. I will pursue all lawful appeals and ask for an independent review.”
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She highlighted constitutional issues: “I must also highlight the constitutional crisis Yunus has created by manipulating the International Crimes Tribunal. The ICT was established to prosecute the war criminals of 1971. It was never designed to adjudicate political disputes. In Bangladesh, any change to a tribunal’s mandate or legal basis must be brought before Parliament. The current regime has bypassed this entirely, issuing executive orders to rewrite the ICT’s jurisdiction and procedures without any democratic oversight. Such orders are constitutionally invalid, and any tribunal operating under them functions outside the rule of law. This means that every action taken by this modified ICT-BD rests on an unlawful foundation.”
She posed a warning to the nation: “And I urge the nation to consider: what happens if the next Parliament, once restored to legitimacy, refuses to endorse these irregular amendments? What will be the fate of verdicts, particularly death sentences, handed down in the meantime?
“How can the state justify an execution carried out under a legal framework that may later be declared unconstitutional? This is what happens when unelected governments, lacking any mandate from voters, start tinkering with the constitution and previously independent institutions. It hugely damages a country’s public welfare and its political culture.”
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Responding to calls for her extradition from India, Hasina stated: “Any extradition request should follow the law, not politics. I respect the legal process, but such requests must be handled transparently and must safeguard the rights of the accused. My message to the authorities in Dhaka is simple: pursue justice, but do so in a way that heals the country rather than deepens divisions. Reconciliation requires impartial investigations, not victor’s justice, and national healing can only begin when courts are beyond political control.”
Addressing recent convictions in a land allocation case, Sheikh Hasina said: “These convictions are another example of politically driven prosecution. My family and I firmly deny the ACC’s allegations. No persuasive evidence of corruption was presented during these trials, for the simple reason that none exists. The timing and conduct of these trials once again raise serious questions about due process. The prosecutions proceeded in absentia without full, transparent evidence and a fair opportunity to defend. It is obvious that this was not justice. It was political score-settling, which is the opposite of justice. Frankly, Bangladesh deserves better. I will contest these verdicts through every legal avenue, and I call on independent international observers to scrutinise the procedures used.”
On her 15-year tenure’s achievements amid criticism of debt and authoritarianism, she declared: “I am proud of the economic progress achieved while I led the government: sustained growth, dramatic poverty reduction, and transformative infrastructure that improved the lives of ordinary Bangladeshis and raised incomes. Those development gains, the growth of our garment industry, the critical infrastructure we invested in and the material improvements millions experienced are enduring legacies. Our GDP grew by 450% over my 15 years in office, and millions were lifted out of poverty. The 450% figure comes from the IMF. It is a testament above all to the resourcefulness of Bangladesh’s people. But it was facilitated by strategic policymaking on the Awami League’s part, done for the nation’s welfare. Yunus and his cronies will never achieve anything remotely comparable for our countrymen and women.”
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Regarding the AL’s exclusion from the February 2026 elections, Sheikh Hasina warned: “Excluding the Awami League from meaningful participation disenfranchises tens of millions of voters and undermines the credibility of any election. For elections to be accepted as fair, the ban must be lifted so that all major parties can contest freely. We have been elected by the people nine times since 1971; it is crazy to exclude us. Whether in government or opposition, a party that large has to be part of the national political conversation; otherwise, Bangladesh’s people will not take the government or the political process seriously.”
On minority attacks, she expressed alarm: “I am deeply saddened by the disturbing reports of attacks on Hindu and other minority communities since last year. These are unacceptable. The state must protect all citizens. Yet Yunus has consistently downplayed and even denied these daily acts of violence. Protecting minorities and ensuring justice for victims are obligations of any responsible government.”
Critiquing the interim administration’s reforms, Sheikh Hasina said: “An interim government, because it is unelected and thus has no mandate, should be limited in its ambitions and have as short a lifespan as possible. It can play a constructive role if it restores inclusive politics, upholds rights, and prepares the ground for credible elections. Regrettably, Yunus has so far failed on all these counts. Elections have been repeatedly delayed, and the most popular political party banned. Judicial institutions have been weaponised as tools of political oppression, our once-free media has been silenced, and the rights of ordinary Bangladeshis to exercise their freedom of belief and political expression undermined. Chaos and violence are becoming parts of our culture.”
To Bangladeshi voters, she advised: “Voters must continue to advocate peacefully and calmly for their right to vote for the party of their choice. No election that excludes the country’s most popular political party can be considered free or fair. The international community must call out this situation and hold the interim government accountable for failing to enable elections that are free, fair, and inclusive. Who will emerge strongest depends on whether the contest is genuinely open. The Awami League will happily serve either in government or in opposition if the elections are free, fair, and inclusive and the new government enjoys the support of voters. My fear is that the result will reflect the restrictions placed on the electorate rather than the popular will.”
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On national healing and return, the former premier said: “My vision is a reconciled Bangladesh where the rule of law, inclusive politics, minority rights, and democracy are restored. Only then would I consider returning: when there is genuine rule of law, clear guarantees of safety and due process, and a return to constitutional governance.”
Finally, on deepening Pakistan ties, she said: “Any deepening of relations must not compromise Bangladesh’s national interest or security. I am concerned that shifts in foreign alignments, if they come with less scrutiny of extremist networks, could create risks. The state must guard against any external influence that would empower radical groups or allow violence to take root.”
Sheikh Hasina’s interview, coming amid ongoing crackdowns and her recent Victory Day message vowing AL resurgence, underscores Bangladesh’s polarised politics as elections approach without the country’s historically dominant party.
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