Sheikh Hasina Warns Dr. Yunus: “Where Will He Escape, We Won’t Let Him”

Special Report

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned Dr. Muhammad Yunus, leader of the interim government, declaring that his actions are illegal and that he and his associates will face justice. Speaking on February 2, 2025, in a virtual address to an online platform focused on the liberation war, Hasina said, “Where will he escape to? We will not let him escape. He will be caught and brought to justice.”

Hasina condemned the interim government led by Dr. Yunus, labeling it illegal.

“They will have to face the consequences for their illegal actions, for violating people’s rights and for taking away people’s basic necessities. One day, they will be held accountable for these crimes,”

she stated, expressing confidence that the day of reckoning is not far off.

The prime minister’s remarks were made during her first formal address to party members since August 5, 2024, and she took the opportunity to give various instructions to her supporters. Hasina delivered her speech for about half an hour during the weekly discussion hosted by the online page “ETIM,” which focuses on the Liberation War. Her address included guidance for party leaders and activists on various issues and national concerns.

She emphasized that February’s activities should focus on engaging with the public, particularly the working class and farmers who are struggling.

“You don’t need to take unnecessary risks. Go to the people, especially the workers who have lost their jobs, the farmers who cannot access fertilizer, and those who are in distress,” she told her followers.

Hasina also discussed the distribution of winter clothing, jokingly criticizing Yunus’ government for using a helicopter to deliver aid. “Spending 800,000 taka on helicopter deliveries, from one area to another, is absurd,” she quipped, noting the excessive costs involved in such actions.

In her criticism of Yunus’ leadership, Hasina pointed out the ongoing failures of his interim government, including issues such as a tax hike that unfairly impacts the people while his government exempts their own members from paying taxes.

“How can they impose taxes on the people, yet exempt themselves?”

Hasina asked, calling this a shameful practice.

Addressing Yunus’ administration’s handling of food distribution, Hasina questioned why the poor were not receiving rations, despite the country having stored enough rice. “Were they only interested in hoarding resources for themselves?” she asked.

“Why should the poor have to scavenge for food in dumpsters? This was not the case under our leadership.”

She continued by comparing her government’s efforts to provide for the people, specifically pointing out the failure of the current administration to uphold basic human rights and the worsening condition of the nation’s economy under Yunus’ leadership.

Hasina also discussed the economic and social challenges faced by the people under the interim government, including unemployment, the collapse of industries, and the persecution of journalists. She emphasized that the poor and marginalized were suffering the most under Yunus’ rule, adding, “People are losing their jobs, industries are being destroyed, and journalists are being harassed.”

At one point, Hasina expressed deep emotional grief when recalling the tragic events of August 15, 1975, when her family was brutally attacked, and she lost 18 relatives, including her parents and brothers. “They killed my father, the Father of the Nation, and my entire family,” she said tearfully.

Looking ahead to the future, Hasina urged her party members to prepare for the vision of a prosperous Bangladesh by 2041. “We must rebuild Bangladesh from where it has been set back,” she said. “The people of Bangladesh have endured much, and our job now is to move forward.”

In addition, Hasina criticized Yunus for failing to deliver essential services, such as textbooks for children at the beginning of the year, and for the economic downturn that has left the country in a dire situation. She pointed out the steep drop in the country’s growth rate since Yunus took over, blaming his leadership for economic setbacks, which include the collapse of banks and the diversion of public funds into the hands of the powerful.

She concluded her address by calling on her party to continue their resistance against the interim government in a peaceful, legal manner, reflecting on her own long battle for justice in the face of adversity. Hasina also instructed her party members to keep detailed records of the legal cases and attacks against them, comparing their situation to the way Yunus documented complaints against his own government.

Analysis of Sheikh Hasina’s Speech:

Following her address, political analysts and commentators across Bangladesh have begun offering in-depth analysis of the speech. Some key takeaways include:

• Despite the ongoing political violence and repression, Hasina has not called for any illegal actions. Instead, she has emphasized the importance of adhering to the rule of law, just as she has done in the past during trials for war criminals and those responsible for the assassination of her family in 1975.
• Hasina questioned Yunus’ government for implementing taxes and policies without legislative approval, pointing out the lack of transparency and accountability in how the interim government has been handling national resources and public services.
• She emphasized solidarity with the working class, the farmers, and the disenfranchised, ordering her party members to support those suffering the most under the current regime.
• Hasina has called for peaceful, democratic protest against the abuses of power by the interim government, advising her followers to engage with the public in a non-violent manner rather than resorting to destruction and chaos.

Sheikh Hasina’s speech has struck a chord with many, particularly her dignified, respectful tone in addressing even her political opponents. Netizens have noted the contrast between her conduct and the current political climate, and have suggested that current political leaders should take a lesson from her in maintaining decorum and restraint.