“Everything Happening in Bangladesh Is Yunus’ Doing; India Has Every Right to Be Concerned” — Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently living in self-imposed exile in India, has launched a sharp attack on the interim government in Dhaka, holding its chief Mohammad Yunus fully responsible for the ongoing violence, political instability, and growing anti-India sentiment in the country.

In an email interview to a news agency, the Awami League leader alleged that extremist forces have gained unprecedented strength under Yunus’ leadership, creating an atmosphere of fear, lawlessness, and hostility toward India. She warned that such developments pose a serious threat not only to Bangladesh’s internal stability but also to regional peace.

“Dangerous and Irresponsible Statements”

Reacting strongly to recent provocative remarks by a Bangladeshi youth leader calling for the separation of India’s northeastern states, Sheikh Hasina described such statements as “dangerous and irresponsible.” She said these comments clearly reflect extremist ideology that has been emboldened during Yunus’ tenure.

“No responsible leader would threaten a neighbouring country on which Bangladesh depends for trade, transit, and regional stability,” Hasina said, adding that such rhetoric only serves radical elements and undermines Bangladesh’s national interest.

Rising Violence and Targeted Killings

Hasina’s remarks come amid a fresh wave of violence in Bangladesh. The killing of radical student leader Sharif Usmani Hadi triggered widespread unrest. In another incident, senior Bangladesh National Citizen Party leader Mohammad Motaleb Sikder was shot in the head in Khulna. Sikder is a key leader of the party’s labour wing.

According to Hasina, these incidents indicate that the interim government has effectively “surrendered to extremist forces”, allowing violence to spiral out of control.

India Has the Right to Be Alarmed

Addressing the surge in anti-India rhetoric, Hasina said New Delhi has every right to view such developments with concern.
“These statements may satisfy ideological fantasies, but they do not represent the voice of the Bangladeshi people,” she asserted. “The people of Bangladesh understand that our prosperity and security depend on strong and friendly relations with India.”

She emphasised that extremist voices do not reflect public sentiment, but their growing influence is damaging bilateral ties.

“This Is Entirely Yunus’ Responsibility”

Holding the interim government squarely accountable, Hasina said the current tension between India and Bangladesh is “entirely the making of Mohammad Yunus.” She accused his administration of issuing hostile statements against India, failing to protect religious minorities—especially Hindus—and allowing radical groups to shape foreign policy.

“When tensions escalate, the same government expresses surprise,” she said, calling it a pattern of irresponsible governance.

Threats to the ‘Chicken Neck’ Corridor

The controversy intensified after Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of the newly formed National Citizen Party, allegedly threatened to shelter separatist elements and disrupt India’s northeastern states. The remarks were seen as a veiled threat to the strategically crucial Siliguri Corridor, often referred to as the ‘Chicken Neck’, one of the world’s most sensitive geopolitical regions.

Security experts view such statements as highly provocative and destabilising, with the potential to inflame regional tensions.

A Warning for the Region

Sheikh Hasina concluded with a stark warning: allowing extremism to dominate political discourse will isolate Bangladesh internationally and weaken its democratic foundations. She urged the international community to take note of the situation, stressing that peace, minority protection, and responsible diplomacy are essential for Bangladesh’s future.

As violence continues and rhetoric escalates, the developments in Dhaka are being closely watched in New Delhi and across South Asia.