Hasina blames Yunus-led interim government for Dhaka violence, warns of strain in India ties

A fragile calm has returned to Dhaka after days of violent protests, but former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina says the situation on the ground tells a deeper story.

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In an email interaction with news agency ANI, she accused the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of failing to contain violence and warned that the unrest is beginning to affect Bangladesh's relations with neighbouring countries, including India.Hasina said the disorder that led to the collapse of her government has not eased since the change in leadership. Instead, she claimed, lawlessness has spread further under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. She also pointed to what she described as rising insecurity for minority communities, adding that developments in Bangladesh are being closely observed in New Delhi.

The former prime minister's comments come after the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, convenor of Inqi-lab Moncho and a young activist associated with last year's July uprising. Hadi was shot at close range on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw in Dhaka's Bijoynagar area. He sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was later flown to Singapore for specialised treatment. He died on December 18.

Following his death, protests erupted across the capital. Activists gathered at Shahbagh intersection to demand justice for the slain leader. The demonstrations added to an already tense atmosphere in the city.