New Delhi: Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister, has accused Muhammad Yunus, the head of the interim government, of turning the nation into a centre of terrorism and lawlessness. She vowed to return to her country and avenge “martyrs” of the unrest.
She criticised the Nobel laureate for admitting that he has “no experience” in governing a country and urged him to step aside. She also accused him of remaining silent as dozens of police officers were killed last year during student-led riots against her quota reforms, allowing disorder to spread.
“Yunus has no experience in running a government. He dissolved all inquiry committees and unleashed terrorists to butcher people. They are destroying Bangladesh. We will remove this government of terrorists, Inshallah,” Hasina declared.
She made these remarks during a virtual discussion with five widows and their children via Zoom, in a session moderated by Nazrul Islam, president of the Awami League’s Europe Chapter.
The protests, initially demanding job quota reforms, evolved into a large-scale movement against Hasina’s long-standing rule. However, radical Islamists soon hijacked the demonstrations, using them to attack Bengali-speaking Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, as well as hill tribes and Adivasis in Bangladesh.
Between June and August, clashes between police and protesters resulted in over 800 deaths. In the aftermath, the government has struggled to control Islamist groups, opposition forces, and agitators targeting Awami League supporters and minority communities.
Protesters attacked, killed cops
The riots saw widespread attacks on police officers. In Sirajganj, more than a dozen officers were lynched, and some of their bodies were set on fire.
“I will return and avenge the deaths of our policemen,” Hasina told the widows of slain officers in her virtual address.
She also accused Yunus’ interim government of harbouring a “so-called student leader” who promotes violence against law enforcement. “We need to put an end to this lawlessness,” she said, adding that she had narrowly escaped an attack on 5 August and was determined to serve the people of Bangladesh once more.
