Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday launched a scathing attack on Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of heading an “illegal and violent” administration that has pushed Bangladesh into what she described as a period of terror, lawlessness and democratic collapse.

Hasina delivered the address through an audio message to a packed audience at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Delhi, marking her first public address in India since leaving Bangladesh in 2024. The event, titled Save Democracy in Bangladesh, was attended by several former ministers from her Awami League government and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora.

Although she did not appear in person, Hasina’s speech was uncompromising in tone, repeatedly branding Yunus a “murderous fascist” and accusing him of betraying the nation for personal power.

‘Democracy is now in exile,’ says Hasina

Opening her address, Hasina said Bangladesh was standing “at the edge of an abyss” and claimed that democracy had effectively been forced into exile since her removal from office on August 5, 2024. She alleged that her ouster was the result of a “meticulously engineered conspiracy” aimed at dismantling the country’s constitutional order.

According to Hasina, the situation in Bangladesh has deteriorated sharply since then, with the collapse of law and order, unchecked mob violence and widespread fear among citizens.

“Life and property have no security,” she said, alleging that violence, looting and extortion have spread from urban centres to rural areas.

She further accused the current dispensation of suppressing press freedom, targeting political opponents and allowing violence against women and minorities to continue without restraint.

Sharp personal attack on Muhammad Yunus

The former prime minister reserved her strongest criticism for Yunus, accusing him of bleeding the country dry and compromising national sovereignty by allegedly serving foreign interests.

Hasina warned that Bangladesh was being pushed towards instability and conflict, claiming that the current leadership was engaged in a “treacherous plot” that threatened the nation’s territorial and constitutional integrity.

Invoking the legacy of the Liberation War and her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she framed the political crisis as an existential struggle for Bangladesh’s identity and independence.

Call for unity and five-point political demand

Positioning the Awami League as the principal defender of Bangladesh’s democratic and pluralist traditions, Hasina urged supporters of the pro-Liberation camp to unite and resist what she termed a puppet regime.

She laid out five key demands, beginning with the removal of the Yunus-led administration to restore democracy and pave the way for free and fair elections. She claimed credible elections would be impossible under the current setup.

Her other demands included the restoration of law and order, guarantees for the safety of minorities and women, an end to politically motivated legal actions against journalists and opposition figures, and the revival of judicial independence.

Hasina also called for a fresh and impartial United Nations investigation into developments over the past year, saying only an objective inquiry could help the country reconcile and move forward.

Political messaging from Indian soil

The address carried symbolic significance, being Hasina’s first public speech in India since she arrived there following her ouster. Her remarks signalled her intent to continue influencing Bangladesh’s political narrative from abroad.

She concluded the address with a call for mass mobilisation, urging citizens not to lose hope and to join what she described as a fight to reclaim democracy and national dignity.

Context of recent interview

Earlier, in a detailed interview given from a secure location in Delhi, Hasina had accused the interim administration in Dhaka of steering Bangladesh towards authoritarianism and extremist influence. She also spoke about the events surrounding her removal from power and alleged targeted attacks on minorities following her exit.

A five-year-old boy from Minnesota was taken into federal immigration custody along with his father while returning home from preschool, prompting sharp criticism from school authorities and local leaders.

According to Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik, federal agents removed the child, identified as Liam Conejo Ramos, from a running car parked in the family’s driveway on Tuesday afternoon. The incident marks the fourth case in recent weeks in which a student from the Minneapolis suburb has been detained by immigration authorities.

Stenvik said officers instructed the child to knock on the door of his home to check whether anyone else was inside. She described the action as “essentially using a 5-year-old as bait” during the operation.

The boy’s father reportedly warned the child’s mother, who was inside the home, not to open the door. The family arrived in the US in 2024 and currently has an active asylum case, with no deportation order issued, Stenvik said.

DHS denies child was targeted

The Department of Homeland Security rejected claims that the child was deliberately detained. A spokesperson said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were attempting to arrest the boy’s father, an Ecuadorian national alleged to be living in the US illegally.

The spokesperson claimed the father fled on foot, leaving the child behind. An officer stayed with the child to ensure his safety while the arrest was carried out, the statement said. DHS added that parents are typically given the option to remain with their children or arrange care with another guardian.

However, Stenvik disputed the claim that the father ran. She said another adult at the residence was willing to take custody of the child, but agents declined to leave him there.

School board chair Mary Granlund said she personally offered to take the child before agents left the scene. A city council member living nearby also said neighbours presented authorisation documents to care for the child, which were allegedly ignored.

Child moved to Texas detention facility

The family’s lawyer confirmed that the child and his father were transported to an immigration detention centre in Dilley, Texas. He said they have not yet been able to establish direct contact and are exploring legal options to secure their release.

Concerns were also raised over conditions at the Texas facility. A children’s rights advocate said recent visits found a sharp rise in the number of detained children, many of whom were sick or held for prolonged periods.

Community impact and rising fear

Columbia Heights Public Schools serves around 3,400 students, most from immigrant families. Stenvik said attendance has dropped significantly in recent weeks, with one day seeing nearly a third of students absent.

She alleged that immigration agents have been operating near schools, following buses and entering parking areas, creating fear and trauma among students and families.

Before Liam’s detention, a 17-year-old student was taken while heading to school, while two other minors aged 10 and 17 were also detained earlier, according to school officials.

The boy’s teacher described him as “kind and loving” and said his classmates are waiting for his safe return.

Bangladesh have decided not to travel to India for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin on February 7, after their request to shift matches out of the country was rejected by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The decision was announced on Thursday following a meeting involving Bangladesh national team players and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had been given a 24-hour deadline by the ICC on Wednesday to confirm its participation in the tournament.

The board clarified that it is keen to take part in the global event but expressed its inability to do so in India amid prevailing political tensions between the two countries. The BCB said it would continue discussions with the ICC in the hope of finding an alternative solution to the impasse.

However, with the tournament drawing closer, Bangladesh’s withdrawal has placed the ICC in a difficult position. As things stand, Scotland are likely to be brought in as a replacement team if Bangladesh’s stance remains unchanged.

The ICC has not yet issued an official statement on Bangladesh’s decision, but preparations for the tournament are continuing as per the original schedule.