Bangladesh Interim Leader Yunus Pressures India Over Sheikh Hasina’s Online Speeches
GG News Bureau
London, 12th June: Bangladesh’s interim head, Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, has openly criticized India for allowing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to broadcast to Bangladeshis from Indian soil. Yunus claims he even personally urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop these online addresses, which he believes are fueling unrest back home.
Speaking at Chatham House in London, Yunus described a tense political mood in Bangladesh since Hasina’s removal. He expressed frustration that Delhi seems indifferent to the disruptive impact of her ongoing communications.
“The whole anger… is now transferred to India, because she went there,” Yunus stated. “When I had a chance to talk to Prime Minister Modi, I simply said, ‘You want to host her? I cannot force you to abandon that policy, but please help us in making sure she doesn’t speak to Bangladeshi people, the way she is doing’.”
According to Yunus, Hasina, who fled to India after being ousted by a student-led uprising in August 2024, continues to address Bangladeshis through social media like YouTube and Facebook, often announcing her broadcasts in advance. Yunus argues these speeches spark public anger and risk inciting more unrest.
“She announces… she will speak, and the whole of Bangladesh gets very angry, the way she is speaking,” Yunus said. “Why is she keeping this whole anger inside of us now? And is India doing what you asked? No. Modi’s answer, I quote, he said, ‘It’s social media, we cannot control it’.”
Yunus called the situation “explosive.” “You can’t just walk away by saying it’s social media. So this is what is still going on,” he added.
The interim leader also revealed that an informal diplomatic note was sent to Indian authorities asking for Hasina’s extradition. India has acknowledged receiving the document, but no concrete action has followed. “We want it to be very legal, very proper… We want to build the best relationship with India. It’s our neighbor. We don’t want to have any kind of problem with them,” Yunus affirmed.
However, Yunus also claimed that “somehow things go wrong every time because of all the fake news coming from the Indian press.” He added, “Many people say it has connections with the policymakers at the top… So this is what makes Bangladesh very jittery, very, very angry.”
Yunus confirmed that Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has begun legal proceedings against Hasina for alleged “crimes against humanity” during her final months in power. Notices have been served to her as part of a process that could eventually involve Interpol.
Yunus stated that a flood of misinformation on social media continues to undermine efforts to stabilize Bangladesh after last year’s violent uprising.
Now 84, Yunus reiterated that neither he nor his current cabinet of advisers are interested in joining the next elected government.
The interim government took charge after Hasina’s removal on August 5 last year, following a massive student-led uprising. Hundreds were reportedly killed in a brutal crackdown ordered by her administration, leading to many defections, resignations, and arrests. Her Awami League party was disbanded soon after.
Yunus returned to Dhaka from Paris on August 8 to lead the interim administration. Since then, several student leaders have formed the National Citizen Party (NCP) with the interim government’s blessing.
The interim government has also launched trials against several former Awami League leaders, both within and outside Bangladesh. These cases, largely related to “crimes against humanity” and abuses during the July-August 2024 crackdown, are ongoing at the International Crimes Tribunal.
