Wed Dec 04 23:07:48 UTC 2024: ## Ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Accuses Interim Leader of Genocide in First Public Address Since Fleeing
**New Delhi, December 5, 2024** – In her first public address since fleeing Bangladesh four months ago, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched a scathing attack on interim leader Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of genocide and failing to protect religious minorities, particularly Hindus. Speaking virtually to Awami League supporters in New York on Sunday, Hasina, currently residing in India, also claimed plots were underway to assassinate her and her sister.
Hasina, who described Yunus as power-hungry, alleged widespread attacks on places of worship and a complete failure by the interim government to address the escalating violence against Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. She cited the demolition of eleven churches and the desecration of temples and Buddhist shrines, highlighting the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das as an example of the government’s alleged persecution of minorities.
Hasina described her August departure from Bangladesh as a necessary measure to prevent further violence, claiming she was forced to leave her official residence, Ganabhaban, amidst armed protests. She stated that she ordered security forces not to fire upon the protestors to avoid bloodshed.
Her address comes amid growing international concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh. India, where Hasina has sought refuge, has repeatedly voiced its serious concern over the surge in extremist rhetoric and violence against Hindus. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated its call for the interim government to uphold its responsibility to protect all minorities, emphasizing that these incidents cannot be dismissed as mere media exaggeration. The MEA also expressed hope for a just and transparent resolution to the case of the arrested Hindu monk. The situation has significantly strained relations between India and Bangladesh.
First Piper 