Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in self-exile in India since the collapse of her government in August 2024, has sharply criticised the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, accusing it of pursuing “violent and extremist” policies that damage Bangladesh’s long-standing partnership with India. In written responses sent to HT, Hasina said that Yunus’s actions, particularly the alleged encouragement of extremist forces and hostility towards minorities, have created deep strains in bilateral relations, rejecting allegations that her presence in India has caused friction. She added that she remains “deeply grateful to the Indian people for providing me with a safe haven.”

Hasina maintained that India has always been Bangladesh’s closest ally and insisted that any diplomatic tension is the result of the caretaker government’s policies rather than her continued stay in India. According to her, Yunus’s administration has allowed extremist elements to influence governance, leading to judicial persecution of political opponents, intolerance towards religious minorities, and the weakening of the historic Dhaka–New Delhi partnership.

Addressing Yunus’s charge that her presence in India complicated the bilateral equation, Hasina argued that the interim leadership is solely responsible for the deteriorating situation. She alleged that attacks on minorities, regressive social policies, and anti-India rhetoric have become common, though she emphasised that these ideas do not resonate with most citizens of Bangladesh, who have long viewed India as a trusted partner. She reiterated her gratitude to the Indian public for sheltering her during a period she described as politically motivated persecution.

Hasina also responded to the impending verdict by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal, where prosecutors have sought the death penalty against her and other senior Awami League leaders in cases relating to alleged crimes against humanity. Calling the tribunal a “kangaroo court” controlled by her political adversaries, she said the proceedings lack credibility, independence, and due process. She claimed that the evidence presented against her—particularly audio recordings and transcripts—was manipulated, arguing that no impartial legal system would admit such material. Hasina said she has repeatedly challenged the interim government to allow her case to be tried before an international tribunal such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), where she believes she would receive a fair hearing, adding that the Yunus administration avoids such venues because it cannot control the outcome.

The former prime minister also addressed the interim government’s decision to ban the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act and suspend the party’s registration, effectively preventing it from contesting the general election scheduled for February. She warned that such a move fundamentally undermines democracy, saying that millions of Bangladeshis would be denied the right to vote for the country’s oldest political party. According to her, if people cannot vote for their preferred representatives, they may choose not to vote at all, delegitimising the entire electoral process. She said the Awami League—having come to power through democratic means nine times—would continue challenging the ban through legal and diplomatic avenues.

On India’s position that Bangladesh’s elections must be free, fair, inclusive and participatory, Hasina said that an election without the Awami League cannot claim legitimacy. She stressed that the restoration of constitutional rule is impossible without the meaningful participation of the country’s most established political force.

Responding to accusations that she directed the 2024 crackdown on student and mass protests—which the UN said resulted in up to 1,400 deaths—Hasina said the allegations distort the truth. She denied issuing any order that authorised security forces to use lethal force and said it was “a gross misrepresentation” to claim she oversaw minute-by-minute tactical decisions. While acknowledging that some law-enforcement mistakes may have occurred, she said the protests had descended into violence and the government’s priority was to protect lives and uphold the Constitution. She pointed out that her administration had formed an independent inquiry to investigate the unrest, but the Yunus government dissolved it immediately after assuming power, depriving the public of reliable information and enabling her opponents to weaponise the crisis.

Hasina endorsed the Awami League’s move to approach the International Criminal Court over “retaliatory violence” against party supporters, journalists, judges and minority communities. She cited reports from the UN and global rights organisations alleging thousands of fabricated cases, arbitrary detentions, custodial deaths and violent reprisals since the interim government took office. She argued that the Yunus administration was using the prosecution against her to distract from these ongoing abuses and insisted that only an international judicial mechanism can ensure accountability.

She also expressed concern over an increase in extremist activities in Bangladesh since the interim government assumed power, pointing to the release of individuals previously convicted of supporting insurgent groups in India’s northeast and the re-emergence of organisations banned during her tenure. Hasina claimed that growing engagement between Dhaka and Pakistan’s military establishment further threatens regional stability. She warned that the spread of radical ideologies, violence against minorities, and restrictions on women’s rights have eroded safety and created fear across Bangladesh, jeopardising both domestic security and the trust that underpins the country’s relationship with India.

Reflecting on her tenure, Hasina said her government had overseen a period of significant economic expansion, with Bangladesh’s economy growing by over 450% and major infrastructure projects being completed. Improved trade and connectivity with India, according to her, played a crucial role in this economic rise and strengthened the bilateral partnership. She noted that the country was on the path to graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, but that these gains were now at risk due to the interim administration’s decisions, the downgrading of Bangladesh’s economic outlook by the IMF, and what she described as shortsighted foreign policy shifts.

She concluded by warning that the current turbulence threatens decades of progress and could reshape Bangladesh’s geopolitical alignments at a time when China and Pakistan are increasing their influence. According to Hasina, the stability of India–Bangladesh relations—and Bangladesh’s own democratic and economic future—depends on restoring constitutional rule, protecting minorities, containing extremism, and ensuring that the upcoming election includes all major political forces.