Sheikh Hasina warns Bangladesh risks becoming ‘Pakistan-style hybrid regime’, urges India’s support

(FILES) The then Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks as she is sworn in for a fifth term at the Presidential Palace in Dhaka on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Munir UZ ZAMAN / AFP)

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned that her country is at risk of sliding into “a Pakistan-style hybrid regime” under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus, stressing that India’s role is crucial in safeguarding democracy in Dhaka.

In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18’s Manoj Gupta, Hasina described India as Bangladesh’s “steadfast friend” and urged New Delhi to remain actively engaged in supporting the will of the Bangladeshi people. “All we ask of India is to back ordinary Bangladeshis in their desire to choose their own government,” she said, adding that India’s continued involvement would be essential to “prevent Bangladesh from sliding into a Pakistan-style hybrid regime.”

Hasina called India a “key partner in preserving democratic stability in the region” and credited New Delhi for consistently prioritising a “stable, democratic regime in Bangladesh.”

Since her ouster, the former prime minister has frequently voiced her concerns about the erosion of democratic values in her country. When asked whether Indian policymakers viewed her as an ally or a political burden, she was clear in her response. “India is a longstanding friend, and I am deeply grateful to the Indian people for welcoming me,” she said. “New Delhi’s interests are aligned with ensuring a stable, legitimate, and democratically elected regime in Dhaka backed by the support of its people.”

Hasina also drew a sharp contrast between her government’s relationship with India and that of the current Yunus administration. “Yunus’s evident problems with Delhi have nothing to do with me,” she said. “They are caused by his sponsorship of extremists, his failure to protect religious minorities, and the anti-India rhetoric emanating from his administration. These are actions of an inexperienced leader who does not recognise the value of our partnership.”

Praising India’s steady diplomatic backing since her removal from office, Hasina acknowledged New Delhi’s consistent calls for “inclusive elections” and for “highlighting minority persecution” under the interim government. She reiterated that her party, the Awami League, continues to command wide public support within Bangladesh. “The Awami League does not need rebuilding within Bangladesh while it commands the support of tens of millions of ordinary Bangladeshis,” she said. “The ties that bind our countries run very deep, and this will not change.”

Hasina also accused the current government of being heavily influenced by extremist groups, warning that Bangladesh’s political system could collapse if democracy is not restored soon. “Yunus is acting as a cardboard-cutout leader of a regime actually run by Hizb-ut Tahrir extremists,” she said. She appealed to India and other regional partners to continue pushing for free and fair elections. “The only way to restore good health to Bangladesh’s political system,” she said, “is by enabling a government to be elected and genuinely rule by the consent of the people.”

Concluding her remarks, Hasina said that India’s support for democracy in Bangladesh was not only about bilateral friendship but a regional necessity. “Our friends in India must persist in their calls for democracy and inclusivity,” she said. “That is the best way to future-proof our country against regime degradation and ensure peace in South Asia.”