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New Delhi: Bangladesh's ousted leader Sheikh Hasina accused the Yunus-led government of the country of perpetrating “unspeakable atrocities" on the country's minorities. She accused the regime of targeting the non-Muslims of the country, following her removal from power.
Hasina in a no holds barred attack on the Yunus regime said that the current dispensation seized power illegally. He also accused them of setting "horrific precedents" in the country and presiding over acts like "burning of minorities alive." She was probably referring to the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, which sent shockwaves across the region.
Hasina said that she firmly believed that the people of Bangladesh would not allow such a horrific time to continue any longer, where non-Muslims are subjected to "unspeakable atrocities". She also accused the Yunus government of interfering with the freedom of religion of all, not allowing all communities living in Bangladesh to practice their faith.
She said that the situation deteriorated further after her ouster from power, last year in August. The Hindu population of Bangladesh has seen a number of attacks on it and also its places of worship in the recent past. These have increased in the past 1 month as the country continues to grapple with regime change and prepares for a general election in February next year.
Last week a 25-year-old Hindu worker was lynched by a mob in Mymensingh. He was accused of blasphemy, though the charges could not be verified, even after his death. Minorities of the country held a protest march in the capital, Dhaka, over the interim government's failure to protect minorities. They wanted an assurance of safety from the Yunus-led government of the country.
Hasina in her message further said that she hoped that the festival of Christmas would strengthen the bond between Christians and followers of other religions in Bangladesh.
She said, "On this festive occasion of Christmas, I wish all Christian brothers and sisters, happiness, peace and prosperity." She added, "May darkness give way to dawn. May Bangladesh live forever."
The interim government has disbanded Hasina's Awami League which will not allow it to participate in the elections in the country. The party has been disbanded under the Anti-Terrorism Act. So now the main competition in the elections would be between BMP and Jamaat-e-Islami and its Islamist allies.
