Sheikh Hasina: “Yunus has no mandate to realign Bangladesh’s foreign policy,” claims

Sheikh Hasina: Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sharply criticized the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, claiming that he has “no mandate to realign Bangladesh’s foreign policy” and warning that strategic decisions made by an unelected administration could have long-term consequences for the nation as unrest envelops the country after the death of a prominent youth movement leader connected to her overthrow.

“Once Bangladeshis can vote freely again, our foreign policy will return to serving our national interests, not the ideological fantasies of extremists who have temporarily seized power,” she stated. She added that “the ties between Bangladesh and India are fundamental and will endure long after this interim government is gone,” she stated.

Sheikh Hasina harshly criticized the International Crimes Tribunal’s (ICT) decision in an email interview on Monday, calling it a “political assassination in judicial robes” and dismissing claims that it showed a lack of trust in the nation’s institutions.

“This decision is entirely focused on political eradication and has nothing to do with justice. Both the ability to defend myself and the choice of attorneys were denied to me. She said that a witch hunt against the Awami League was carried out via the tribunal.

“Our constitutional tradition is strong, and when legitimate governance is restored and our judiciary regains its independence, justice will prevail,” she said, reaffirming her belief in Bangladesh’s constitutional structure.

Sheikh Hasina turned to the upcoming elections in February and questioned its legitimacy in the absence of the presently outlawed Awami League. She accused Yunus of ruling “without a single vote from the Bangladeshi people” and of attempting to outlaw a party “that has been elected nine times by popular mandate.” “An election without the Awami League is not an election, but a coronation,” she said.

Noting that “historically, when Bangladeshis cannot vote for their preferred party, they do not vote at all,” she cautioned that millions would lose their right to vote if the ban is upheld and that any government established in this way would “lack the moral authority to govern.”

Bangladesh needs “a process of genuine national reconciliation,” she stated, calling it a “terrible missed opportunity.” She also claimed that her personal “past, present, and future have always been tied to the safety and security of Bangladesh.”

Sheikh Hasina responded to calls for her extradition in the wake of the ICT ruling by saying that some see it as “a politically-motivated kangaroo tribunal,” while others believe it is the result of “an increasingly desperate and adrift Yunus administration.”

She thanked India for the “endorsement of this position recently made by all of India’s political parties” and said she was “heartened and grateful for the solidarity that India continues to show in maintaining its hospitality.”

She said that she fled Bangladesh “to prevent further bloodshed, not out of fear of facing justice,” and that “you cannot demand my return to face my political assassination.”

She reiterated her challenge to Yunus, saying that she was “confident an independent court would acquit me” and that she had urged him to take the case to The Hague. She also declared that she would “gladly return” if Bangladesh had “a legitimate government and an independent judiciary.”

According to Sheikh Hasina, the problems between India and Bangladesh are “entirely of Yunus’s making.” This is evident in the fact that Dhaka summoned the Indian ambassador.

The interim administration was accused by her of making “hostile statements against India,” failing to safeguard religious minorities, and letting “extremists dictate foreign policy.”

“India has been Bangladesh’s most steadfast friend and partner for decades,” she added, highlighting the depth of bilateral connections. She also expressed optimism that if legitimate government is restored, Bangladesh would return to “the sensible partnership we cultivated over fifteen years.”

Speaking to growing anti-Indian sentiment and worries over Indian diplomats’ safety, Sheikh Hasina said that the animosity is being “manufactured by extremists who have been emboldened by the Yunus regime.”

She said that “the same actors” who drove her family to leave were responsible for the assaults on the Indian embassy, media outlets, and minorities.

A responsible administration would safeguard diplomatic posts, she said, whereas Yunus “grants immunity to hooligans and calls them warriors.” “India’s concerns about the safety of its personnel are justified,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina made reference to the murder of Sharif Usman Hadi, saying it is a reflection of “the lawlessness that uprooted my government and has multiplied under Yunus.”

According to her, violence has grown commonplace, causing internal instability in Bangladesh and harming ties with its neighbors.

“When you cannot maintain basic order within your borders, your credibility on the international stage collapses,” she said, describing this as “the reality of Yunus’s Bangladesh.”

Sheikh Hasina voiced her worries about the rise of Islamist influence, saying she shared her son’s and “millions of Bangladeshis'” desire for the secure, secular society we once had.

She charged Yunus with letting groups connected to foreign terrorist organizations to enter public life, freeing convicted terrorists, and appointing radicals to cabinet posts.

She warned that this should worry not only India but all nations that have an interest in the stability of South Asia. “My fear is that radicals are using him to project an acceptable face to the international community while they systematically radicalize our institutions from within,” she added.

Sheikh Hasina called certain Bangladeshi politicians’ references to the “Chicken’s Neck” or Siliguri Corridor “dangerous and irresponsible,” stating that no responsible leader would jeopardize a neighbor that Bangladesh relies on for stability, commerce, and transportation.

“Once democracy is restored and responsible governance returns, such reckless talk will end,” she added, adding that these voices “do not represent the Bangladeshi people.”

Bangladesh believes in “friendship to all, malice toward none,” Sheikh Hasina remarked in response to signs of increased cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh. However, she criticized Yunus’ “headlong embrace” of Islamabad.

She cautioned that such actions do not represent Bangladesh’s national interests and said that the strategy seemed motivated by desperation after upsetting long-standing partners.