Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s ousted Prime Minister, has accused interim leader Muhammad Yunus of genocide against religious minorities. Speaking virtually at a New York event on Vijay Diwas, she alleged Yunus orchestrated violence against Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. This marked her first public address since fleeing Bangladesh in August amid mass protests.
Hasina cited attacks on temples, shrines, and churches, claiming religious leaders faced persecution. She questioned Yunus’s role in the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das and condemned systematic minority oppression. “Hindus, Buddhists, Christians—none were spared,” she stated.
She also recounted threats to her life, comparing them to her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s assassination in 1975. Describing the storming of her residence in Dhaka on August 5, Hasina said she chose exile to prevent further bloodshed. Despite her departure, violence escalated under Yunus’s administration.
Hasina’s allegations have strained India-Bangladesh ties. India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over rising extremist violence, urging Yunus’s government to protect minorities. The MEA also demanded fairness in Das’s case, highlighting fears of growing instability in Bangladesh.
As tensions rise, Hasina’s speech sharpens focus on Bangladesh’s political crisis and minority plight under Yunus’s leadership.
