Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched a sharp criticism of the country’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of failing to protect minority communities and being complicit in acts of "genocide." Speaking virtually at an event in New York to mark Bangladesh’s Vijay Diwas, Hasina also alleged there were plots to assassinate her and her sister Sheikh Rehana, similar to the killing of their father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in 1975.

This was Hasina's first public address since she sought refuge in India following her resignation in August amid widespread anti-government protests. Reflecting on the August 5 storming of her official residence in Dhaka, she said, “The armed protesters were marching toward Ganabhaban. I instructed my security guards not to open fire, even though lives could have been lost. I had no choice but to leave within minutes.”

Hasina blamed Yunus and his associates for orchestrating violence against minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. “Eleven churches have been destroyed, temples and Buddhist shrines vandalized, and when Hindus protested, their leaders were arrested. What is this brutality against minorities?” she said, referring to the detention of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das on charges of sedition.

The former prime minister accused the interim government of allowing attacks on minorities to escalate unchecked, saying, “People have lost the right to justice. I left Bangladesh to stop the violence, but it continues unabated.”

Relations between India and Bangladesh have grown tense since the Yunus-led interim government assumed power. India has expressed strong concerns over the rising violence and extremist rhetoric targeting minority communities in Bangladesh. New Delhi also called on the interim government to ensure the safety of minorities and handle the case of Chinmoy Krishna Das transparently and fairly.

India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal recently stated, “We are deeply concerned about the rise in extremist rhetoric and violence targeting minorities. These issues cannot be dismissed as media exaggerations. Bangladesh must take urgent steps to protect its minority communities.”

Sheikh Hasina, who has remained in India since fleeing Bangladesh, reiterated her determination to protect minorities and uphold justice. “I never even got the time to resign formally,” she said, adding that her departure was an effort to prevent further violence.

The political turmoil in Bangladesh has been accompanied by a series of attacks on minority communities, including the Hindu population, drawing international scrutiny and calls for action.