Dhaka/New Delhi, Jan 8, 2026 — Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused the country’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, of presiding over a sharp rise in violence against religious minorities, warning that Islamic extremism is being “legitimised” through state inaction ahead of the February 12 general elections.
Speaking in an interview with India’s NDTV, Hasina described the recent attacks on minority communities as a “barbaric and shameful” failure of governance, alleging a breakdown of law and order under the interim administration. She claimed the government has failed in its basic responsibility to protect all citizens equally, particularly Hindus.
“Bangladesh is becoming increasingly unsafe for minorities because the state has failed in its most basic duty,” Hasina said, according to reports carried by ABP Live, citing Press Trust of India (PTI).
Hasina, who has been living in India since fleeing the country following mass protests in August 2024, alleged that perpetrators of religious violence continue to evade prosecution, while authorities deny the religious motivations behind the attacks. She said such denial has emboldened extremist elements and weakened Bangladesh’s secular foundations.
Her remarks come amid growing concern over a surge in communal violence. According to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, at least 51 incidents targeting minority communities were reported in December alone.
These reportedly included 10 killings, incidents of looting and arson, physical assaults, false blasphemy accusations, and attacks on homes, temples and businesses.
The council said tensions escalated following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi on December 12, after which violence reportedly spread across several regions.
Hasina also warned that radical Islamic extremism is no longer confined to fringe groups. “It has been legitimised and emboldened by the interim government’s actions and inaction,” she said, alleging that convicted militants have been released and extremist groups re-entered political life under the current administration.
Drawing a contrast with her own tenure, Hasina claimed her government had worked to dismantle domestic terror networks and promote communal harmony. She warned that unchecked extremism could deter foreign investment, reverse economic gains, and isolate Bangladesh internationally.
“History shows that once extremism becomes embedded in state structures, it is far harder to reverse,” she said, cautioning that continued instability could have regional consequences.
The interim government has yet to formally respond to Hasina’s latest allegations.
