Fri Nov 07 06:21:03 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewrite as a news article:
Summary:
Deposed Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in exile since an uprising 15 months ago, has given an interview to The Hindu. She defends the actions of her security forces during the uprising, while criticizing the interim government led by Nobel laureate Mohammed Yunus. Hasina expresses doubts about the legitimacy of the upcoming February 2026 elections, especially with her party, the Awami League, still banned. She accuses the interim government of clinging to power, being unresponsive to calls for elections, and fostering extremism. She also criticizes a proposed “July Charter” aiming to introduce a set of guiding principles to govern Bangladesh in the coming years, dismissing it as a political tool designed to legitimize authoritarian rule. Finally, she notes the importance of Bangladesh’s relationship with India, expressing concern over the interim government’s growing ties with Pakistan and its failure to address the rise of extremism.
News Article:
Hasina Speaks Out From Exile, Doubts Legitimacy of Bangladesh Elections
New Delhi, November 7, 2025 – In an exclusive written interview with The Hindu, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently in exile following a 2024 uprising, has voiced strong concerns about the future of democracy in Bangladesh.
Hasina defended her government’s actions during the unrest, stating that security forces “certainly made mistakes” but were acting in good faith under violent circumstances. However, her criticism was primarily directed at the interim government led by Nobel laureate Mohammed Yunus.
“I am not confident that the February elections will go ahead,” Hasina said, citing the interim government’s failure to hold elections in the past 15 months and the ongoing ban on her party, the Awami League. “Even if the elections take place, they will not be legitimate if the Awami League remains banned from taking part.”
She accused the interim government of clinging to power, lacking public accountability, and fostering extremism. “The fact that Yunus has appointed some extremists to his Cabinet also sends them an encouraging message and, no doubt, practical assistance too,” she stated.
Hasina also sharply criticized the proposed “July Charter,” describing it as a political maneuver designed to legitimize authoritarian rule, which she stated “distorts” Bangladesh’s history which includes the role of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 1971 Liberation War against the Pakistani military. She expressed skepticism about the impartiality of any referendum on the Charter.
Furthermore, Hasina cautioned against the interim government’s warming relationship with Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of Bangladesh’s ties with India and reminding that people of Bangladesh will “never” forget the atrocities committed by Pakistani military in 1971.
Hasina is currently facing a trial at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka, a body she re-established after returning to power in 2009. She dismissed the tribunal as a “sham,” claiming a guilty verdict is “pre-determined.”
Despite the risks, Hasina expressed her desire to return to Bangladesh when the political climate allows, reaffirming her commitment to democracy, secular rule, and respect for minority rights.
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