‘India sees the chaos’: Sheikh Hasina slams Yunus-led interim government over Bangladesh unrest

Sheikh Hasina slams Yunus-led interim government over Bangladesh unrest, warns ‘this should alarm neighbours’

As Bangladesh struggles to return to normalcy after a fresh spell of violence last week, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has launched a sharp attack on the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, accusing it of failing to maintain law and order and allowing extremist forces to gain ground.

In an email interview with news agency ANI, Hasina said the situation in Bangladesh has deteriorated since her removal from office, claiming that “lawlessness” has intensified under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and that the interim government is powerless to control the violence.

"Such incidents destabilise Bangladesh internally but also our relationships with neighbours who are watching with justified alarm. India sees the chaos, the persecution of minorities, and the erosion of everything we built together," Hasina said.

She claimed Bangladesh’s credibility is eroding internationally due to the absence of “basic order” and alleged that extremist elements are exploiting the current political vacuum.

"This should alarm not only India, but every nation invested in South Asian stability," she told ANI. "The secular character of Bangladeshi politics was one of our greatest strengths, and we cannot allow it to be sacrificed at the whim of a few idiotic extremists. Once democracy is restored and responsible governance returns, such reckless talk will end."

"This tragic killing reflects the lawlessness that uprooted my government and has multiplied under Yunus. Violence has become the norm while the interim government either denies it or is powerless to stop it. Such incidents destabilise Bangladesh internally but also our relationships with neighbours who are watching with justified alarm. India sees the chaos, the persecution of minorities, and the erosion of everything we built together. When you cannot maintain basic order within your borders, your credibility on the international stage collapses. This is the reality of Yunus's Bangladesh," Hasina said.

Her remarks came amid an uneasy calm in Dhaka following days of unrest triggered by the killing of youth leader and Inqilab Moncho convenor Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot during election-related campaigning. The violence also saw the lynching of 27-year-old Hindu man Dipu Chandra Das, intensifying concerns over the safety of minorities in the country.

Reacting to Das’s killing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Sunday said India has urged Bangladesh to ensure accountability.

“India continues to keep a close watch on the evolving situation in Bangladesh. Our officials remain in touch with Bangladesh authorities and have conveyed to them our strong concerns at the attacks on minorities. We have also urged that the perpetrators of the barbaric killing of Das be brought to justice," Jaiswal said.

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Hasina warned that continued unrest would not only destabilise Bangladesh internally but also strain relations with neighbouring countries. She also criticised the interim government’s decision to lift the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, accusing Yunus of empowering radical Islamist forces.

She alleged that extremists have been placed in influential positions, convicted terrorists released from prison, and groups with links to international terror organisations allowed to participate in public life.

Hasina further claimed that radical Islamist groups are using Yunus to project themselves as acceptable on the international stage, arguing that his lack of political experience makes him unfit to govern a complex country like Bangladesh.

The Yunus-led interim administration has not yet responded publicly to Hasina’s remarks. Bangladesh is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on February 12, 2026, following the political unrest that led to Hasina’s resignation and departure from the country.