Sheikh Hasina criticised the interim government for its handling of the situation in the country, calling it “fascist” and saying that the people of Bangladesh were being “deprived” of their rights…reports Asian Lite News
Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday accused Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, of being the “mastermind” behind the student protests that resulted in her removal, claiming the protest was “carefully orchestrated” to topple her government
While addressing a virtual meeting of the United Kingdom Awami League, Hasina claimed that despite all the demands of the protesters being met, the unrest continued across the nation, suggesting that it was a planned conspiracy.
“Yunus himself said that the student protest that started on July 7, 2024, was not a student-initiated protest but a meticulously designed protest to overthrow me…He was the mastermind who started this conspiracy because all the demands were met, and there was no scope for protest, despite there being a protest across the nation…It was a meticulous conspiracy,” Hasina claimed.
She further criticised the interim government for its handling of the situation in the country, calling it “fascist” and saying that the people of Bangladesh were being “deprived” of their rights.
“Today Bangladesh is going through a tough time. Under a fascist government, the people of Bangladesh have been deprived of their rights. The whole of Bangladesh is burning…Today, Bangladesh is being destroyed,” she added.
The ousted Prime Minister further noted the recent arrest of former ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das over the alleged charges of sedition by the Bangladeshi government, stating that he couldn’t have any lawyer to defend Das against the charges and claimed that this was the proof that Bangladesh does not have any law and order.
“They arrested Chinmoy Krishna Das and said there couldn’t be any kind of lawyer defending him. What kind of justice is this?…This proves that Bangladesh doesn’t have law and order,” she added.
Earlier, Hasina also condemned the ‘unjust’ arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das and demanded his ‘immediate release.’
She also expressed concerns over the attacks against minorities and their places of worship and called for ensuring the safety of the religious freedom of all communities.
Meanwhile, Hindus in Purulia held a protest rally against the attack on minorities in Bangladesh. Udayananda Das Brahmachari from ISKCON who was also present in the protest rally said that it was everyone’s right in the country to follow their religion.
Speaking to ANI, Brahmachari said “We have come here from ISKCON Mayapur. Bajrang Dal, RSS and many other organisations have come together in this rally. In India, Muslims and Christians are a minority. Today, Muslims and Christians celebrate Eid and Christmas.. there is no problem.. In Bangladesh, it is everyone’s right to follow their religion. There, our Hindu brothers and sisters are being tortured. They are not allowed to come to school. Is this brotherhood? Is this the teaching of the Quran?… You follow your religion and let us follow our religion… We want them to let our brothers and sisters in Bangladesh follow their religion..”
Meanwhile, in Tripura the All Tripura Hotel and Restaurant Owners’ Association (ATHROA) has decided to deny hotel and restaurant services’ to Bangladeshi citizens. In a statement, Bhaskar Chakraborty, Office Secretary, All Tripura Hotel and Restaurant Owners’ Association said, “On 2nd December we took a decision in the presence of all our members that starting 2nd December, no hotel will be available for Bangladeshi citizens.”The decision comes as a strong response to the growing unrest in neighbouring Bangladesh.
These protests come in the wake of reports of multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There also have been cases of arson and looting of minorities’ homes and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples. The arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Chittagong on October 25 on sedition charges led to heavy protests.
Another Hindu temple was allegedly set on fire in the outskirts of Dhaka. The Mahabhagya Lakshminarayan Mandir, at Dhor village, in the north of Dhaka, came under attack on late Friday night.
India had on November 26 noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote.
India had urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. (ANI)
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