In her first public address from India, exiled former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday launched a sharp attack on the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, urging citizens to resist what she described as an unelected and authoritarian administration incapable of holding free and fair elections.
Speaking through a pre-recorded audio message played at an event titled “Save Democracy in Bangladesh” at the Foreign Correspondents Club, Hasina accused the interim leadership of dismantling democratic institutions, suppressing dissent, and failing to protect vulnerable communities.
Her address comes less than three weeks before Bangladesh’s general election on February 12, from which her party, the Awami League, has been barred.
Calls for Democratic Restoration and Minority Protection
Hasina appealed for an end to violence and lawlessness in Bangladesh and demanded what she termed an “ironclad guarantee” for the safety of religious minorities, women, girls, and marginalised groups. She argued that stability and rule of law were essential for economic recovery and democratic revival.
The former prime minister also called on the United Nations to conduct a “new and truly impartial investigation” into developments following the collapse of her government in August 2024, saying such an effort was necessary for reconciliation and justice.
Background: Exile and Election Fallout
Hasina has been living in self-imposed exile in India since fleeing Bangladesh amid widespread student-led protests in August 2024. Her speech was delivered a day after election campaigning officially began in Bangladesh.
The Awami League chief faces a death sentence in a crimes-against-humanity case issued by a Bangladeshi court in November 2025, a ruling she has rejected. She has defied court orders to return for trial.
Top Quotes From Sheikh Hasina’s Address
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“In this grave hour, the entire nation must rise united and galvanised by the spirit of our great Liberation War.”
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“To overthrow the foreign-serving puppet regime, the sons and daughters of Bangladesh must defend and restore the Constitution written in the blood of martyrs.”
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“Bangladesh will never experience free and fair elections until the shadow of the Yunus clique is lifted.”
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“There must be an ironclad guarantee ensuring the safety of religious minorities, women and girls, and the most vulnerable in our society.”
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“Democracy is now in exile. Human rights have been trampled. Freedom of the press has been extinguished.”
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“Violence, torture, and sexual assault against women and girls remain unchecked. Law and order has collapsed.”
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“The UN must conduct a new and truly impartial investigation into the events of the past year.”
Hasina also alleged that Bangladesh had been “plunged into an age of terror” following what she described as a “meticulously engineered conspiracy” that removed her government—claims for which she offered no direct evidence.
Political Impact
Analysts view the speech as an effort to keep the Awami League politically relevant ahead of an election expected to be dominated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), with the Jamaat-e-Islami projected to gain ground.
While the Awami League retains notable grassroots support, many of its senior leaders remain in exile across India and Europe, limiting the party’s ability to campaign on the ground.
Bangladesh has seen renewed unrest in recent months, with political tensions continuing to reverberate following Hasina’s exile.
