Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has levelled serious accusations against the country&rsquo;s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, alleging he has compromised national sovereignty by &ldquo;selling the nation to the United States.&rdquo; The statement was issued via an audio message posted to the Awami League&rsquo;s official Facebook page, where Hasina also criticised the government&rsquo;s ban on her political party, branding it unconstitutional.
In her remarks, Hasina claimed that Yunus, who assumed leadership of the transitional government on August 7, 2024, following mass student protests, came to power with the assistance of extremist organisations. &ldquo;He has seized power with the help of terrorists, even those who are banned in various international arenas, against whom my government protected the people of Bangladesh. After only one terrorist attack, we took strict measures. Many were arrested. Now prisons are empty. They released everyone. Now Bangladesh is the reign of those militants,&rdquo; she said.
The protests that led to Hasina&rsquo;s resignation forced her to flee the country, creating a political vacuum that paved the way for Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, to be appointed interim head of state. Reports have recently emerged suggesting that Yunus may step down amid mounting pressure from the military to organise general elections scheduled for December.
Hasina condemned what she described as Yunus&rsquo;s alliance with militant forces, asserting that her administration had worked to eliminate such threats. &ldquo;He has given the reins of the government to terrorists,&rdquo; she stated.
Reflecting on her family's legacy, Hasina referenced her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh, who was assassinated in 1975. &ldquo;My father did not agree to America's demands for St. Martin's Island. He had to give his life for that. And that was my destiny as I never thought of selling the country to stay in power,&rdquo; she said.
Recounting the country&rsquo;s war of independence, she recalled the sacrifices made by her fellow citizens. &ldquo;It can&rsquo;t be anyone&rsquo;s intention to give up even an inch of that country's soil to anyone. But what a misfortune it is today. Such a person came to power, a person who is absolutely loved by the people of the whole country, a person who is loved by the world, and what happened to that person today when he came to power?&rdquo; she said.
Hasina further criticised Yunus&rsquo;s actions since taking office, denouncing him as a &ldquo;militant leader&rdquo; and condemning the Awami League ban. She called the move illegal and in violation of the nation&rsquo;s foundational legal framework.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The constitution of our great Bengali nation, we got it through a long struggle and the liberation war. Who gave this militant leader, who has illegally seized power, the right to touch the constitution? He does not have the mandate of the people and has no constitutional basis. That position (Chief Advisor) also has no basis, and it does not exist. So, how can he change the law without a parliament? This is illegal. They have banned the Awami League,&rdquo; she said.
Since her ouster, Hasina has continued to issue statements from abroad, challenging the legitimacy of the current administration and defending her party&rsquo;s role in the country&rsquo;s political landscape.
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(Left) Muhammad Yunus and Sheikh Hasina (Right)

Sheikh Hasina accuses interim leader Muhammad Yunus of taking power with extremists and violating the constitution.

Hasina: Yunus Sold Out Bangladesh to the US

Sheikh Hasina accuses interim leader Muhammad Yunus of taking power with extremists and violating the constitution.

May 25, 2025 | 18:48 IST