Yunus 'selling' Bangladesh to America: Hasina's big charge against already cornered chief adviser

Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, slammed the country’s Interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of “selling the nation to the United States.” Hasina was condemning the recent ban on her party, the Awami League, from contesting in polls, calling it ‘unconstitutional.’

Hasina’s audio message was posted on her Party’s Facebook account. In her remarks, Bangladesh’s ousted leader reiterated that Yunus seized control of Bangladesh to foster extremist groups. The Nobel laureate assumed the role of Bangladesh’s interim chief adviser after violent student-led protests toppled the Hasina government, prompting the former Prime Minister to flee the country.

Interestingly, Hasina’s recent comments against Yunus came amid reports that he had threatened to resign following the growing military call for a general election to be held in Bangladesh in December. In the audio message, Hasina claimed that Yunus had given the reins of the government to “terrorists” against whom her government fought.

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In her first statement in a while, the former Bangladeshi PM once again brought up America’s intention to take over St Martin's Island. “My father did not agree to America’s demands for St. Martin’s Island. He had to give his life for that. And that was my destiny as I never thought of selling the country to stay in power,” she said.

She also recalled how the country took up arms and fought with her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, for Bangladesh’s independence. “It can’t be anyone’s intention to give up even an inch of that country’s soil to anyone. But what a misfortune it is today. Such a person came to power, a person who is absolutely loved by the people of the whole country, a person who is loved by the world, and what happened to that person today when he came to power?” she asked.

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“He has seized power with the help of terrorists, even those who are banned in various international arenas, against whom my government protected the people of Bangladesh. After only one terrorist attack, we took strict measures. Many were arrested. Now prisons are empty. They released everyone. Now Bangladesh is the reign of those militants”, the former Bangladeshi PM furthered.

 Hasina calls Yunus a ‘militant leader’

Reiterating her accusations that Yunus is supporting terrorists in the country, Hasina went on to refer to the interim chief adviser as a ‘militant leader’. She also slammed the transitional government for banning the Awami League, insisting that the move was both illegal and unconstitutional.

“We got the constitution of our great Bengali nation through a long struggle and the liberation war. Who gave this militant leader, who has illegally seized power, the right to touch the constitution? He does not have the mandate of the people and has no constitutional basis. That position (Chief Advisor) also has no basis, and it does not exist. So, how can he change the law without a parliament? This is illegal. They have banned the Awami League,” Hasina concluded.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh began the first trial of Hasina-era officials on Sunday at a special court. The court, located in the capital Dhaka, accepted a formal charge against eight police officials in connection with the killing of six protesters on August 5 last year, the same day Hasina left the country and protesters stormed into her residence.

The chief prosecutor noted that the right men were charged with crimes against humanity. Four are in custody and four are being tried in absentia. “The formal trial has begun,” Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of Bangladesh’s domestic International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), told reporters on Sunday. “The prosecution believes that this prosecution will be able to prove the crimes committed by the accused,” he added.