Hasina Warns of Deepening Lawlessness in Bangladesh After Killing of Inqilab Moncho Leader

Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned that violence has become “the new normal” in Bangladesh, alleging that growing mob unrest has rendered law-enforcement agencies increasingly ineffective under the country’s interim administration. Her remarks follow the assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, convenor of the political platform Inqilab Moncho, which has triggered fresh waves of unrest in Dhaka.

Hadi, a prominent activist known for his anti-India positions and a key organiser of the July 2024 protest movement, was shot dead by unidentified assailants while travelling in a rickshaw in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on December 12. He sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was later airlifted to Singapore for advanced medical treatment, but succumbed to his injuries on December 18. He was reportedly preparing to contest parliamentary elections from a major Dhaka constituency.

His killing galvanised anti-Hasina and anti-Awami League protests across the capital. During the unrest, demonstrators torched the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as well as prominent cultural institutions including Chhayanaut (ছায়ানট) and Udichi (ഉദীচী). Protesters later gathered at Shahbagh, demanding justice for the slain leader.

“This tragic killing reflects the lawlessness that uprooted my government and has multiplied under Yunus,” Hasina said in remarks to news agency ANI. “Violence has become the norm, while the interim government either denies the reality or is powerless to stop it. Such incidents destabilise Bangladesh internally and undermine our relationships with neighbours who are watching with justified alarm.”

Hasina further claimed that India was closely monitoring developments in Bangladesh and expressed concern over what she described as growing persecution of minorities. “India sees the chaos, the erosion of everything we built together, and the targeting of minorities. When a state cannot maintain basic law and order, its credibility on the international stage collapses,” she said, describing the situation as “the reality of Yunus’s Bangladesh.”

Hadi had been among the central figures of the July 2024 uprising, which initially began as a protest movement demanding reforms and opposing legislation passed by Hasina’s government. Critics have since alleged that the movement was later overtaken by Islamist groups.

Following the unrest that led to her ouster, Hasina fled to India after mobs attacked Gonobhobon, the prime ministerial residence, and set fire to the residence of Bangladesh’s founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. A tribunal subsequently sentenced her to death and sought her extradition from India, a request New Delhi has not acted upon.

In the post-ouster period, several Islamist leaders, including hardline figures, were released from prison. The interim government also lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party, allowing it to resume political activities that had been prohibited under Hasina’s administration, while banning the Awami League.

Hasina cautioned that institutions invested in South Asian stability should take note of Bangladesh’s deteriorating security environment. She also reiterated her commitment to secular politics, describing it as a cornerstone of the country’s democratic strength. “The secular character of Bangladeshi politics was one of our greatest assets, and it cannot be sacrificed to the whims of extremist elements,” she said. “Once democracy is restored and responsible governance returns, such reckless behaviour will end.”

She additionally voiced concern over growing diplomatic strain between India and Bangladesh, pointing to anti-India protests and the recent killing of 27-year-old Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das. Das was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy on December 18, after which his body was set on fire. The incident sparked widespread outrage and led to the arrest of at least 12 suspects.

“The strain in India–Bangladesh relations is entirely of Yunus’s making,” Hasina alleged. “His government issues hostile statements against India, fails to protect religious minorities, and allows extremists to shape foreign policy, then expresses surprise when tensions rise. India has been Bangladesh’s most steadfast partner for decades, and these ties will outlast any temporary government.”

Hasina concluded by warning that extremist forces were exploiting the interim leadership to gain legitimacy. “Yunus is not a politician and lacks experience in governing a complex nation. My fear is that radical groups are using him as an acceptable face to the international community while systematically radicalising our institutions from within,” she said.