Exiled Leader Slams Current Administration

Months after her ouster following intense student-led demonstrations, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched a fierce critique of the current government. In a statement released through the Bangladesh Awami League on social media, Hasina accused Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s administration of orchestrating "mass arrests, mass searches, and torture" to systematically suppress political opposition.

Hasina, who has been residing in India since fleeing Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, claimed that citizens are enduring widespread human rights violations. "Today's Bangladesh is a country of mass arrests, mass searches, torture, false cases, extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. There is no law, no rights and no public security in the country," she stated.

Allegations of Crackdowns and Extradition Pressures

The former prime minister specifically pointed to intensified security operations in regions such as Gopalganj, alleging that law enforcement agencies are conducting daily block raids. According to her statement, between 5,000 and 7,000 individuals are being detained daily as part of a concerted campaign to dismantle the Awami League, which was previously banned under executive anti-terror provisions by the interim administration.

Beyond security concerns, Hasina also targeted the government's economic management. She highlighted mounting economic pressures, including severe shortages of utilities like gas, electricity, and fuel, alongside rising unemployment, skyrocketing commodity prices, and a sharp slowdown in industrial investment and fertilizer availability.

These fresh accusations come amid ongoing legal battles. In November 2025, Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal after being convicted of crimes against humanity linked to the 2024 protest crackdowns—charges she has consistently dismissed as politically motivated. Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions persist as Dhaka continues to push for her extradition from India, a request that New Delhi has acknowledged remains under active legal consideration.