DHAKA, Bangladesh (Diya TV) — Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has spoken out about Bangladesh’s 2024 unrest, describing it as a violent insurrection orchestrated by extremists, rather than a peaceful student protest. In an exclusive statement, Hasina criticized the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, raising concerns over democratic legitimacy, national security, and economic stability.
Hasina said the unrest began as a genuine student movement. “Students initially protested peacefully, and we accepted their demands,” she said. However, radicals escalated the demonstrations into widespread violence. Police stations were attacked, state infrastructure was destroyed, and communication networks were disrupted.
By that point, Hasina said, the protests had become a violent mob rather than a civic movement. “My instinct has always been to protect our country and our citizens. Leaving was not easy, but I did so to minimize further loss of life and ensure the safety of those around me,” she explained.
Hasina recalled establishing a judicial commission to investigate deaths during the unrest. “We wanted a full picture of what happened in August 2024,” she said. The commission revealed a clear conspiracy behind the attacks. Hasina claims Yunus immediately dissolved the inquiry, released convicted terrorists, and granted immunity to those he now calls ‘July warriors.’
“These same actors recently marched on the Indian embassy, emboldened by the interim government,” Hasina said. She questioned why Yunus would dismantle the mechanism designed to uncover the truth if concerns over excessive force or wrongful prosecutions were genuine.
Hasina criticized Yunus for governing without a popular mandate. “He has placed extremists in cabinet positions, released convicted terrorists, and done little to stop attacks on religious minorities,” she said. She also highlighted the economic decline under Yunus, noting that Bangladesh’s economy had quadrupled during her tenure.
She emphasized that the ban on the Awami League, the country’s oldest and most popular political party, disenfranchises millions of voters. “These elections cannot be legitimate if the Awami League is banned,” Hasina said.
She warned that extremists were using Yunus to appear internationally acceptable while radicalizing institutions at home. Bangladesh and its people have extraordinary resilience. I trust that democracy will prevail and set our country back on a path to recovery and growth,” she said.
Hasina reflected on her party’s achievements, including the restoration of democracy in the 1990s following years of military rule. She stressed the importance of political engagement and participation. “Democracy thrives with healthy opposition,” she said, criticizing parties that previously boycotted elections.
She highlighted her government’s record in lifting millions out of poverty, empowering women, protecting minority rights, and preventing radicalism. “It takes a legitimate and strong government to maintain stability and build international partnerships. We did so within constitutional boundaries and were repeatedly mandated by voters,” Hasina said.
Hasina described the Yunus administration as overreliant on Western support and lacking political legitimacy. She said international bodies have condemned his actions, cabinet members have resigned, and citizens face unprecedented danger. Hundreds of people have been detained arbitrarily, and journalists have faced censorship, she said.
“This goes beyond incompetence; it is the systematic destruction of a once-stable country,” she warned. Hasina urged the international community to ensure free, fair, and participatory elections so that a legitimately elected government can rebuild Bangladesh.
Hasina also criticized Yunus’s approach to foreign relations, particularly with Pakistan. “Rushing to embrace Pakistan, which has never acknowledged the 1971 genocide, reveals a desperate search for international validation,” she said. She stressed that strategic decisions affecting generations should not be made by an unelected government serving ideological interests.
“Once Bangladeshis can vote freely, I hope foreign policy will again be based on pragmatic assessments of national interests,” Hasina said.