Sheikh Hasina hits back: Calls Bangladesh’s Yunus rule ‘illegitimate’ ahead of verdict!

Speaking to NDTV, Hasina, one of Bangladesh’s longest-serving leaders, said, “The events of last summer were a tragic subversion of democracy. What began as legitimate student protests was exploited by anti-democratic forces who conspired to remove the elected government through violence and intimidation, leading to chaos and needless loss of life.”

Reflecting on the July–August 2024 Uprising, Hasina added, “It quickly became clear that the security situation had deteriorated so drastically that my only option was to leave Dhaka to ensure the safety of my family and to prevent further escalation of violence.”

The 78-year-old Awami League chief expressed anguish over the reversal of her government’s policies, saying, “It was painful to leave behind my homeland. Watching our pluralistic culture being assaulted and the measures we had taken to nurture economic development senselessly undone has been difficult.”

She also reaffirmed her faith in the resilience of the Bangladeshi people and their desire for democratic choice.

Hasina criticised the current interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, as ‘illegitimate,’ claiming it delayed elections out of fear of facing voters’ judgment.

She warned, “I am deeply skeptical that the elections slated for February, if they happen, will be anything more than a charade, designed to rubber-stamp the regime’s unconstitutional rule. The ban on the Awami League sets a dangerous precedent and disenfranchises tens of millions of ordinary citizens.”

She further condemned the Yunus administration for drafting an unconstitutional charter and proposing reforms that, she said, serve only to legitimise authoritarian rule.

“Any new government elected through this sham process cannot be considered democratic,” Hasina said.

Security Tightened Ahead of Verdict

Security across Bangladesh has been heightened ahead of the verdict in the crimes against humanity case linked to the July–August 2024 uprising against Hasina.

The 78-year-old former PM, who fled to India amid widespread protests and violence against her Awami League government, is being tried in absentia for allegedly ordering a deadly crackdown on student protests—a charge she has denied.

The verdict, which also involves two other former officials of her ousted government, will be broadcast live, according to Prosecutor Gazi Monowar Hossain Tamim. “The portion of the verdict that the tribunal reads, subject to permission, can be broadcast live by Bangladesh Television, and through them, by all other media outlets in the country,” he said.

A three-member International Crimes Tribunal bench, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, is expected to deliver the verdict on Monday. The other accused are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.

In the lead-up to the verdict, two crude bomb explosions occurred in Dhaka on Sunday—one near the residence of Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Central Road, and another near the National Citizen Party (NCP) office in Banglamotor.

Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam of the DMP’s Ramna Division told The Daily Star, “I visited the scene. The crude bombs exploded on the road near Ideal College, while the adviser’s residence is located in a nearby alley.” Thankfully, no casualties were reported.