Subhechcha Ganguly 
Exiled former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday urged citizens to oppose the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus, accusing it of fostering violence, lawlessness and attacks on minorities, and failing to ensure free and fair elections ahead of the country’s general polls scheduled for February 12.
In her first public address since leaving Bangladesh, Hasina said the Yunus-led administration was “incapable” of conducting credible elections, especially as her party, the Awami League, has been barred from contesting. She called on Bangladeshis to “rise up” against what she described as an illegal and unconstitutional regime.
The Awami League chief, who has been living in self-imposed exile in India after fleeing Bangladesh amid student-led protests in August 2024, delivered her remarks through a pre-recorded audio message. The recording was played at an event titled “Save Democracy in Bangladesh” at the Foreign Correspondents Club, a day after election campaigning officially began in the country.
Alleging widespread violence and a breakdown of law and order, Hasina appealed for an immediate end to unrest and demanded an “ironclad guarantee” for the protection of religious minorities, women, girls and other vulnerable communities. She said stability was essential for Bangladesh’s economic recovery and social harmony.
Launching a scathing attack on Muhammad Yunus, Hasina labelled him a “corrupt, power-hungry traitor” and accused him of being part of a conspiracy to oust her from office. Invoking the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War, she called on Bangladeshis to unite to “defend and restore the Constitution written in the blood of martyrs.”
“To overthrow the foreign-serving puppet regime of this national enemy at any cost, the brave sons and daughters of Bangladesh must rise to reclaim our independence, safeguard sovereignty and revive democracy,” she said.
Hasina raised five key demands on behalf of the Awami League, including the removal of the Yunus administration to restore democratic governance. She claimed that Bangladesh would “never experience free and fair elections” as long as the interim government remained in power.
She also demanded an immediate halt to what she described as politically motivated legal actions aimed at intimidating journalists, Awami League leaders and opposition figures, and called for the restoration of public trust in the judiciary.
Seeking international intervention, Hasina urged the United Nations to conduct a “new and truly impartial investigation” into developments following the collapse of her government. She said such a probe was necessary to promote reconciliation and healing, while rejecting what she termed the “selfish pursuit of vengeance.”
Bangladesh’s political climate remains tense as the country heads into elections without the participation of the Awami League, raising concerns among observers about the inclusiveness and credibility of the electoral process.
