As Bangladesh experiences a fresh wave of violence following the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched a sharp attack on the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government over the worsening law and order situation.
Hasina, who has been living in exile in India ever since she was removed from office following a massive youth agitation in the country, stated that the "lawlessness" that led to her ousting has only escalated under Yunus's leadership.
"This tragic killing reflects the lawlessness that uprooted my government, and it has only multiplied under Yunus. Violence has become the norm, while the interim government either denies it or is powerless to stop it," she said in an interview with the ANI news agency.
Hasina also remarked that the violent incidents have destabilised Bangladesh's relations with neighboring countries.
"India sees the chaos, the persecution of minorities, and the erosion of everything we built together. When you cannot maintain basic order within your borders, your credibility on the international stage collapses. This is the reality of Yunus's Bangladesh," the former prime minister said.
Hadi, a spokesperson for the Inqilab Mancha, was shot in the head on December 12 by masked gunmen during an election campaign in the Bijoynagar area of central Dhaka. He succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment in Singapore on Thursday.
His death triggered attacks and vandalism across Bangladesh, including stone-throwing at the residence of the Assistant Indian High Commissioner in Chattogram.
Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old Hindu garment factory worker, was lynched to death by a mob and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Baluka, Mymensingh.
In her interview, Hasina also expressed concern about the release of convicted prisoners in Bangladesh and the lifting of the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami.
"Yunus has placed extremists in cabinet positions, released convicted terrorists from prison, and allowed groups linked to international terrorist organisations to take roles in public life," she said.