Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched a sharp attack on the interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, accusing it of overseeing a constitutional breakdown, democratic backsliding and a rapid deterioration in law and order.
Speaking from exile in a rare and detailed interview with CNN-News18, Hasina said Bangladesh is facing an unprecedented national crisis, marked by institutional misuse, political vendetta and growing insecurity among ordinary citizens.
“Our country is under deep strain,” Hasina said. “Democracy is threatened, law and order has nearly vanished, and ordinary people are living in fear.”
Hasina alleged that the Yunus-led administration has targeted her family and the Awami League through politically motivated prosecutions. She strongly criticised the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which sentenced her to death in absentia for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the July–August 2024 protests, calling the tribunal “rigged” and constitutionally invalid.
According to Hasina, the interim government illegally expanded the ICT’s mandate through executive orders without parliamentary approval, undermining constitutional norms and due process. She said she would consider returning to Bangladesh only if democracy, constitutional rule, and guarantees of personal safety and legal fairness are restored.
Hasina warned that continued erosion of democratic institutions and law enforcement could push the country into deeper instability, urging the international community to closely monitor developments in Bangladesh.
