Dhaka: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says Interim Government chief Muhammad Yunus violated the nation’s interests by allying with the United States. On social media, Hasina said Yunus gives significant land, such as St. Martin’s Island, to foreign parties. She also said militants support Yunus and have unjustly disqualified the political party she belongs to, the Awami League.
Since fleeing Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, following a student protest that ended her 15-year rule, Hasina has lived in exile in India. She has drawn on her father’s legacy as the country’s founder. He died serving because he chose to keep Martin’s Island out of American hands. Hester asserted that we cannot sacrifice our nation’s independence in power. She criticized Yunus, a former Nobel Peace Prize winner, for appearing to put foreign interests before Bangladesh’s.
The ex-prime minister says Yunus is working with terrorists and has allowed convicted militants to leave jail, leading to increased terror in Bangladesh. “He has released terrorists from jail whom we somehow managed to defend our country against,” Hasina claimed, as there have been more attacks by extremists since the interim government took office. She added that banning the Awami League was against the constitution. Yunus does not have the power to cancel it or eliminate political parties without public agreement.
Her remarks came as protests against Yunus occurred, and the military demanded elections within two years. Led by the 84-year-old founder of microfinance, the interim government has been criticized for being slow to hold elections and for releasing prisoners who have been convicted of militant acts, some from Hizb-ut-Tahrir, an illegal group. On May 12, 2025, the announcement of a ban on the Awami League sparked further political agitation, as critics claimed it undermined democracy.
Yunus has explained his decisions by blaming Bangladesh’s problems on the “spontaneous and unnecessary damage” caused by Hasina’s government. He calls a family of bandits who rule by corruption and authoritarianism. Burhan has declared that he will only conduct elections between December 2025 and March 2026 if he implements reforms to ensure a free and fair voting process.
Bangladesh’s relations with India are under pressure now that Hasina is visiting there. Dhaka’s interim government has called for Hasina to be sent to Bangladesh to face charges of crimes against humanity and corruption. India has yet to respond. Experts believe Hasina is trying to gather her supporters by questioning Yunus’s credibility as tensions between political sides increase.
As the country faces difficulties, the interim government is under growing pressure to restore order, improve the economy, and address rumors of an increasing militant presence. Yunus asks Bangladeshis to unite and build a better democracy. Still, Hasina intends to criticize her country overseas.