Wed Nov 12 16:05:06 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
Ousted former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently in exile in India, gave an exclusive interview to PTI, asserting that her return to Bangladesh depends on the restoration of participatory democracy, the lifting of the ban on the Awami League, and free and fair elections. She criticized the current interim government led by Mr. Yunus, accusing them of damaging relations with India and empowering extremist forces. Hasina expressed gratitude to India for providing her refuge. She also addressed allegations of mishandling protests, rejected claims of calling for an election boycott, and stated her willingness to face trial under international supervision. She further criticized the Yunus government’s handling of diplomacy and accused him of avoiding an impartial tribunal.
News Article:
Hasina: Return to Bangladesh Hinges on Democratic Reforms, Denounces Yunus Government’s Actions
New Delhi – November 12, 2025 – Ousted former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, speaking from an undisclosed location in India, has declared that her return to her homeland hinges on the restoration of participatory democracy, the lifting of the ban on the Awami League, and the conduct of free and fair elections. In an exclusive email interview with PTI, Hasina sharply criticized the current interim government led by Mr. Yunus, accusing them of endangering ties with India and empowering extremist forces.
“The most important condition for my return to Bangladesh is the same condition that the Bangladeshi people require: a return to participatory democracy,” Hasina stated, emphasizing the need for the interim administration to rescind its ban on the Awami League.
Hasina, who left Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, following widespread anti-government protests, expressed gratitude to the Indian government for providing her refuge. “I am immensely grateful to India’s government and its people for their kind hospitality,” she said.
The former Prime Minister strongly condemned the Yunus administration’s handling of relations with India, calling it “foolish and self-defeating.” She reassured Indians worried about the current climate in Bangladesh, asserting that the interim government “doesn’t represent what our countrymen and women think. India is and will remain our nation’s most important friend.”
Hasina also addressed allegations regarding her government’s handling of the protests and denied calling for a boycott of upcoming elections. She further stated her willingness to stand trial under international supervision, including at the International Criminal Court, accusing Yunus of avoiding such scrutiny because an impartial tribunal would exonerate her. She dismissed Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal as a “kangaroo tribunal” controlled by her political opponents.
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