Muhammad Yunus criticizes Sheikh Hasina for her comments about Bangladesh made from India
Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, criticized former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday for making political statements about Bangladesh from India, describing it as an “unfriendly gesture.” Yunus suggested that Hasina should “remain silent” to avoid causing discomfort between the two countries until Dhaka seeks her extradition.
“If India wishes to retain her until the Bangladeshi government requests her return, she must remain silent,” Yunus said. “Her public statements from India are problematic. If she had remained quiet, the issue would have faded, and people would have moved on. However, her continued comments and instructions while in India are unwelcome,” Yunus told news agency PTI.
Yunus was alluding to Hasina’s August 13 statements in which she called for justice and stated that everyone who had been involved in recent killings, vandalism, and “terror acts” needed to be “investigated and punished.”
Hasina’s remarks are “not good for Bangladesh or for India,” in Yunus’ words.
He told PTI that “there is discomfort regarding it.”
The chairman of Bangladesh’s provisional administration went on to say that they have “quite firmly” and orally communicated their position to India.
Everyone is aware of it. We have made it clear that she must remain silent. She has been provided shelter there and is campaigning from there; thus, this is an unfriendly move against us. It’s not like she followed a typical path to get there. He said, “She left after people’s movement and public outrage.
“Yes, her return is necessary to ensure that there is peace among the Bangladeshi people.” He went on, “She has to stand trial in front of all of us for the kind of atrocities she has committed.”
Yunus on India-Bangladesh Relationship
Muhammad Yunus expressed a desire for strong relations with India but emphasized that New Delhi should move away from the belief that only Sheikh Hasina’s leadership ensures Bangladesh’s stability.
“The way forward is for India to move beyond this narrative,” Yunus said. “The prevailing belief is that everyone in Bangladesh is Islamist, that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is Islamist, and that only Sheikh Hasina can keep the country safe from turning into Afghanistan. India seems trapped by this narrative.
Bangladesh, like any other nation, is simply a neighboring country,” the 84-year-old Nobel laureate added, according to PTI.
Regarding bilateral relations with India in the future, Yunus stated that certain agreements, including the transportation and Adani electricity contracts, should be reevaluated.
It is universally acknowledged as necessary. We will examine the written word as well as what is occurring in reality. I’m unable to respond to it specifically. We will then raise questions about it if there is a need to evaluate,” he stated.
Sheikh Hasina’s downfall
Following a surge in anti-government protests last month, Hasina, who has ruled Bangladesh since 2009, announced her resignation and left the nation. Her official apartment was attacked by thousands of people who removed furniture, started fires, and took raw fish out of the fridge. The former prime minister of Bangladesh touched down on a C-130 transport plane a few hours later at the Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
The chief of the Bangladesh Army, Waker-Uz-Zaman, proclaimed the formation of an interim administration led by Yunus shortly after Hasina’s departure.