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Sheikh Hasina blames Bangladesh’s interim government for strained ties with India
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accuses the interim Yunus government of fuelling hostility towards India and failing to protect minorities amid rising violence.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has squarely blamed the country’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus, for the deterioration in relations with India, amid a surge in violence and growing concerns over the safety of minorities and diplomatic missions.
Her remarks come against the backdrop of escalating unrest in Bangladesh, including the lynching of a Hindu man and recent threats by radical groups targeting Indian missions, developments that have triggered serious concern in New Delhi.
In a sharp attack on the interim administration, Hasina accused the Yunus government of adopting an adversarial posture towards India and failing to rein in extremist elements.
“The strain you are witnessing is entirely of Yunus’ making. His government issues hostile statements against India, fails to protect religious minorities, and allows extremists to dictate foreign policy, then expresses surprise when tensions rise,” she said.
Calling India Bangladesh’s “most steadfast friend and partner,” Hasina asserted that the bilateral relationship, built over decades, would endure beyond the current political turbulence. “The ties between our nations are deep and fundamental; they will outlast any temporary government. Once legitimate governance is restored, Bangladesh will return to the sensible partnership we cultivated over 15 years,” she added.
Hasina further alleged that extremist groups, emboldened under the interim regime, were driving the current hostility. “These are the same actors who marched on the Indian embassy, attacked media offices and minorities with impunity, and forced me and my family to flee for our lives,” she said, accusing the Yunus administration of placing such individuals in positions of power and releasing convicted terrorists.
She said India’s concerns over the safety of its diplomatic personnel were “fully justified,” adding that a responsible government would protect foreign missions and prosecute those issuing threats. “Instead, Yunus grants immunity to hooligans and calls them warriors,” she remarked.
Hasina’s comments follow India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoning the Bangladeshi envoy in New Delhi over security concerns arising from protests outside Indian High Commissions in Bangladesh. Dhaka, in turn, had earlier summoned India’s High Commissioner, objecting to what it described as “anti-election activities” by Bangladeshi political figures based in India.
Hasina, who has been staying in India since her government was ousted last year following mass protests, defended New Delhi’s position, reiterating that India has consistently supported a stable and democratic Bangladesh.
Tensions escalated further after Bangladesh, on December 14, summoned India’s High Commissioner Pranay Verma, alleging that “fugitive political figures,” including Hasina, were influencing Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections scheduled for February next year from Indian soil. New Delhi rejected the allegations, stressing that it has never allowed its territory to be used for activities harmful to Bangladesh’s interests.
The diplomatic strain deepened following the killing of Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot in Dhaka on December 12 and succumbed to his injuries in Singapore on December 18. His death sparked widespread protests across Bangladesh, including demonstrations outside Indian diplomatic missions.
